workmanlike
Americanadjective
-
like or befitting a workman.
-
skillful; well executed.
a workmanlike piece of writing.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of workmanlike
First recorded in 1400–50, workmanlike is from the late Middle English word werkmanlike. See workman, -like
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.
During the 1990s, Norway were synonymous with an effective but workmanlike style of defensive football.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
We overlook what’s humble, workmanlike or unfashionable, until suddenly it’s been rebranded and handed back to us with better lighting and a higher price tag.
From Salon ● Dec. 30, 2025
Albini paired his dedication to the most vicious, arresting sounds possible with a workmanlike professionalism as a producer in his studio, Electrical Audio.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2024
It has been a workmanlike training camp for last year’s No. 4 overall draft selection, evidenced not only by Wright staying late after practices but also his picking up on professional hockey nuances.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 4, 2023
The fact was that he was dizzy with all this strangeness, and he hoped that by attending to something dull and workmanlike he’d regain a little balance.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
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.
