jockey

jockey — noun

1. Someone paid to ride a horse during a race, guiding the animal with skill to ach

1.nounB1
Definition

Someone paid to ride a horse during a race, guiding the animal with skill to achieve the best possible finish.

Example

Eliska has been working as a professional jockey for over ten years.

collocation: professional jockey

The young jockey guided her horse to a narrow victory at the final hurdle.

collocation: guide + horse to victory

Common collocations
  • professional jockey
  • young jockey
  • seasoned jockey
  • winning jockey
Synonyms
  • rider

    more general — includes casual riders and non-racing contexts

  • horse rider

    less specific; does not imply professional racing

Usage Note

Distinguish from 'horse trainer' — a jockey rides the horse during the race; a trainer prepares the horse beforehand.

Common Mistakes

My uncle is a jockey for cars.
My uncle is a race car driver.
A jockey specifically rides horses, not other vehicles.

2. A term that combines with another word to describe someone whose daily work or m

2.nounB2
Definition

A term that combines with another word to describe someone whose daily work or main interest involves a specific kind of equipment, machine, or subject.

Example

After ten years in an office, Quinn was tired of being a desk jockey.

compound: desk jockey (office worker)

The nightclub hired a new disc jockey who specialised in electronic dance music.

compound: disc jockey (music selector)

Common collocations
  • desk jockey
  • disc jockey
  • computer jockey
  • video jockey
Synonyms
  • operator

    more formal and neutral; lacks the enthusiast connotation

  • enthusiast

    emphasises strong interest rather than profession

Usage Note

Almost always used as the second part of a compound noun (disc jockey, desk jockey, computer jockey). The first word tells you what kind of equipment or field the person works with.

Common Mistakes

She is a jockey of computers.
She is a computer jockey.
This sense appears in compound form, not with the preposition 'of'.

jockey — verb

Word family

  • jockeying
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Compete' is the broadest of these words — anyone can compete in a race, an exam, or a market without any implication of unfairness. 'Vie' suggests a more direct, often public struggle where rivals are in plain sight of each other (they vied for her attention). 'Manoeuvre' emphasises the strategic, behind-the-scenes moves that are carefully planned rather than openly confrontational (manoeuvring for a board seat). 'Jockey' adds a sharper edge — it implies persistent, sometimes pushy effort to outmanoeuvre others, often in a workplace or political setting, and may carry a hint of cunning. 'Contend' is more formal and draws attention to the difficulty of the struggle itself (contending with three experienced rivals). For example: while all four candidates competed for the nomination, the two front-runners spent the primary season jockeying for the endorsement of the party's most influential donors.

compete ↗viemanoeuvrecontend ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • jockey for position
  • jockey for power
  • jockey for advantage

Prepositions

Etymology

ScottishEnglish

'Jockey' began as the name Jock, a Scottish short form of the common name John. In the 1500s it was used for horse dealers and travelling horse traders, and later came to mean a professional horse-race rider. By the 1800s, the verb sense of 'manoeuvring for an advantage' grew out of the competitive positioning and tactical moves seen in horse racing.