lumberjack

American  

[luhm-ber-jak] / ˈlʌm bərˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a person who works at lumbering; lumber; lumbering; logger.

2. lumber jacket.

3. Canadian. the gray jay.

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lumberjack British  

/ ˈlʌmbəˌdʒæk /

noun

1. (esp in North America) a person whose work involves felling trees, transporting the timber, etc

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Etymology

Origin of lumberjack

First recorded in 1825–35; lumber ¹ + jack ¹

Explanation

A lumberjack is someone who cuts down trees professionally. Picture someone holding a chain saw and wearing a plaid flannel shirt and steel-toe boots, and you can picture a lumberjack. These days, lumberjack sounds pretty old-fashioned — the same job is done today, but people who do it are typically called "loggers," and they use power tools like chain saws. Lumberjacks, particularly in the 19th and early 20th century, used hand saws and axes and were famous for being ruggedly independent and physically daring. Lumberjack was coined by Canadians.

Example Sentences

After ogling old cars, lean into nostalgia in the Meadow Gold District, dotted with retro shops and “muffler men,” giant fiberglass statues of a lumberjack, a cowboy and more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

Duffy, a former Republican congressman and Fox Business anchor, is also a former world champion lumberjack speed climber and cast member of “The Real World: Boston.”

From Salon • Oct. 27, 2025

The closing moments revealed that he had survived, winding up in a remote community far from Miami and starting a new life as a lumberjack.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2025

Grgich won asylum in Canada after agreeing to work as a lumberjack in British Columbia.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2023

“Not a lumberjack, a limberjack. A clog doll. A jigger. Dancing Dan. Shuffling Sam. I call him Mendigo. He keeps me company. Come inside and I’ll let you give it a try.”

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull