Published November 4, 2025 

“Journeyman” shows up in a lot of sports stories. What does it mean?

Our friends at Merriam-Webster say: “a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person usually by the day,” or “an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer especially as distinguished from one who is brilliant or colorful.”

There’s no mention of it meaning a well-traveled pro, someone who has played for several teams. Some writers use it that way. That second definition above can include that, but it doesn’t appear to be a defining or necessary characteristic.

Is the word in flux? Will it one day mean someone who has played for six or seven teams or more? Or does it already mean that, and dictionaries haven’t caught up yet?

Only time will tell. My guess is that many who use it that way have never thought about it and never looked it up, having read it in a few stories and assuming they knew the meaning.

A note

This might be it for a while as far as posts about my editing philosophy. More pressing matters are upon me.

Always remember:

Sending love. Protect your peace.

♥

Thank you

If you appreciate what you find here and feel generous, you can check out the Tip Jar. Thank you for reading. Here’s a butterfly for you.

/”””””\  \  /  /”””””\
\   0   \(  )/   0   /
>       l l       <
/    o   l l   o    \
\,,,,,,,,,/v\,,,,,,,,,/

Journey star photo by Tami Freed via Shutterstock.