day job

noun

: one's regular employment as contrasted with an occasional, secondary, or coveted job

Examples of day job in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As 20-0 and Gamerank continue to grow, Baumeyer has no plans to give up his day job. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2026 This adviser doesn’t need to be a PR specialist or marketer in their day job, though friends and family with that background would be a good source. — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Fueled by affection for Gramps, by nostalgia for a childhood steeped in whiskymaking lore, and by a distinct lack of zeal for his law-firm day job, Kevin agrees to drive him the 2,000-odd miles from Arizona. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026 Later, of course, the show becomes about trying to become an adult—see Buffy’s doomed day job at the Doublemeat Palace—and that is an exercise in grief too. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for day job

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of day job was in 1971

Rhymes for day job

See All Rhymes for day job

Browse Nearby Words

day jessamine
day job
day labor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Day job.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20job. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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