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utility man

American  

noun

  1. a worker expected to serve in any capacity when called on.

  2. an actor of miscellaneous small parts.

  3. Baseball. a player who is not a regular and whose value lies in an ability to play several positions.


utility man British  

noun

  1. a worker who is expected to serve in any of several capacities

  2. an actor who plays any of numerous small parts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

See Examples For:

“Ever since I got here, the first impression of him was how good he was with people,” said veteran utility man Miguel Rojas, who hopes to become a manager after he hangs up his cleats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

The Dodgers have already cleared a spot on the 40-man roster, releasing utility man Tyler Fitzgerald on Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 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

One was a young architect, the other was a general utility man.

From The Secret House by Edgar Wallace

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