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.
But if a presidential run means Springfield’s tax-and-spend set is kept at bay for the next few years, a little distraction from Pritzker’s day job may be a small price to pay. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026 Many teams did not provide the women, who spent time ample time practicing and competing on top of their day jobs, with health insurance or even all of the necessary safety equipment for such a physical sport. Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 But my day job for the past 25 years has been to document every minute detail of a reality television program, which some might opine is not any more ridiculous a profession than embarking on a career as a reality TV rapper. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026 While Mizban continued her day job consulting for global law firms, Boehm focused on getting from design to finished product. Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Day job.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20job. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster