jockey

1 of 2

noun

jock·​ey ˈjä-kē How to pronounce jockey (audio)
plural jockeys
1
: a person who rides or drives a horse especially as a professional in a race
2
: a person who operates or works with a specified vehicle, device, object, or material
a bus jockey
pencil jockeys

jockey

2 of 2

verb

jockeyed; jockeying

transitive verb

1
a
: to maneuver or manipulate by adroit or devious means
was jockeyed out of the job
b
: to change the position of by a series of movements
jockey a truck into position
2
a
: to ride or drive (a horse) as a jockey
b
3
: to deal shrewdly or fraudulently with

intransitive verb

1
: to maneuver for advantage
often used in the phrase jockey for position
2
: to act as a jockey

Examples of jockey in a Sentence

Verb There was a lot of political jockeying at the fund-raiser. The driver carefully jockeyed the truck into a narrow space in the crowded parking lot.
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.
Noun
Now, China is facing off with the U.S. not just on trade but advanced technologies including AI and semiconductors, as the world’s two largest economies jockey for supremacy in these areas. Yue Wang, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2025 Unlike the Super Bowl, playoff games are scheduled with only a week’s notice as teams jockey for postseason spots on their home field and others are eliminated. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
The shooting happened around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, when Brooks’ Honda Odyssey minivan jockeyed through traffic to overtake a Crown Victoria driven by Uriel Miller, 26, of Tennessee, police said. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025 Republicans are jockeying over how to deal with a government shutdown deadline that's coming fast — and everything else President Trump wants them to get done. Stephen Neukam, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for jockey 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Jockey, Scots nickname for John

First Known Use

Noun

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1708, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of jockey was in 1643

Dictionary Entries Near jockey

Cite this Entry

“Jockey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jockey. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

jockey

1 of 2 noun
jock·​ey ˈjäk-ē How to pronounce jockey (audio)
plural jockeys
1
: one who rides a horse especially as a professional in a race
2
: one who operates something
a gas-pump jockey

jockey

2 of 2 verb
jockeyed; jockeying
1
: to ride a horse as a jockey
2
: to move or manage skillfully or cleverly or so as to gain advantage
jockey a truck into position
jockeying for position

More from Merriam-Webster on jockey

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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