utility man
Americannoun
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a worker expected to serve in any capacity when called on.
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an actor of miscellaneous small parts.
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Baseball. a player who is not a regular and whose value lies in an ability to play several positions.
noun
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a worker who is expected to serve in any of several capacities
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an actor who plays any of numerous small parts
Etymology
Origin of utility man
First recorded in 1850–55
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.
But the Dodgers’ lineup Sunday was missing left fielder Teoscar Hernández and utility man Tommy Edman.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández returned to the injured list after manager Dave Roberts revealed before Wednesday’s game that an MRI exam revealed a “significant tear” in Hernández’s left oblique.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
Despite his track record of mediocre offense—he has lifetime .257 batting average with a .674 OPS—his defensive versatility and his positive clubhouse presence have made him attractive as a utility man.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
After Carrick confirmed left-sided utility man Patrick Dorgu would be out for "a number of weeks" through injury, there have been suggestions the club might look to cover the Denmark international's absence.
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026
His friend Smith was engaged to accompany him and to officiate as general utility man in the broadest sense of the term.
From A Pirate of Parts by Richard Neville
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.
