handyman
Americannoun
-
handymen
plural
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:
He retired as a handyman a few years ago but passed the time caring for his aging partner, Vivian Lee Arguello, and doing odd jobs around the neighborhood to make ends meet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Black Point Beach Association has a handyman to maintain signs and locks; a warden monitors the beach to enforce its rules.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
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 nameless handyman with a mysterious past that receives, and requires, no explanation, Miao’s face is plenty expressive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
During his time in America, Quirin had worked as a handyman, chauffeur, and mechanic.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
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
Local handymen have also donated their time for free to fit the new items.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2025
Lowe's heavy investments in catering to its "Pro-customers", which include professional builders, contractors and handymen, with services such as same-day delivery across the United States have also helped, Ellison added.
From Reuters ● Aug. 22, 2023
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
“I can use honest handymen like you. You come around anytime, you sabe me?”
From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep
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.
