handyman
Americannoun
noun
-
a man employed to do various tasks
-
a man skilled in odd jobs, etc
Gender
See -man.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of handyman
Explanation
Someone who's good at many things, especially fixing things around the house, can be called a handyman. If you need help unclogging a drain and repairing a hole in a window screen, you should call a handyman. A handyman knows how to do minor repairs and odd jobs, and either tackles these on weekends in his own home or advertises his skills and is employed by other people. These days, it's not uncommon to use the word handyperson instead, since it includes both men and women who are handy at fixing and building things. In any case, a handyman or handyperson doesn't specialize in one skill, but dabbles in many.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If you have to wait for a building superintendent or a handyman, an experience that is notoriously clock-agnostic, it’s no big deal to work from home that afternoon.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
A local handyman, Arsenio García, gingerly guarded a carry-on with a melting cold pack.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
In retirement, I figured, my wealth of time would shift my inner handyman into high gear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
This rackety project, involving an elaborate set of tools and a more experienced handyman, became one of the principal stage activities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2025
I know because Dad takes High Street to get to the governor’s mansion when he does handyman work there.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Founder Kale Li told AFP she first became interested in the industry after becoming tired of dealing with inconsistently priced and unreliable handymen in southwestern Chengdu, where she lives.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
Rhiannon says that her managing agents would arrange for handymen to come around to do repairs without consulting her first.
From BBC ● May 27, 2024
I had just bought a home, and I was hearing a lot of funny stories about handymen and contractors shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to their work.
From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2023
Lentz identified the other victims shot near the McCain siblings as Charles Manuel, 76, and John Rorie, 59, who were both handymen.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 18, 2023
I refused, even though I no longer had any illusions about what an education could do for me; I had already encountered too many college-graduate handymen.
From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
