Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A man who does odd jobs or various small tasks.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun informal A man who does small tasks and odd jobs

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a man skilled in various odd jobs and other small tasks

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

handy +‎ -man

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Examples

  • I use the term handyman deliberately because it has a kind of unsophisticated connotation that is meant to quietly offend an expert tradesperson.

    EzineArticles 2010

  • Isn't there a lot of competition in 'handyman' websites?

    August 2007 2007

  • Isn't there a lot of competition in 'handyman' websites?

    EirePreneurZ: An interview with Barbara Molloy of Pickapro.ie 2007

  • An unlimited supply of Diet Irn Bru (It's a Scottish drink) and something tall, dark and handsome with a degree in handyman skills.

    Reader Interview: Sayuri Nalini Singh 2008

  • An unlimited supply of Diet Irn Bru (It's a Scottish drink) and something tall, dark and handsome with a degree in handyman skills.

    Archive 2008-05-01 Nalini Singh 2008

  • The difference between an independent yeoman and a second-rate handyman is independence.

    The Suicide Of Marlboro Man « Isegoria 2008

  • But my replacement fridge - swiped by the clever handyman from the currently empty apartment next door-is newer and cleaner than the Defunctadaire ever was.

    Two Things with Radishes Lindy 2006

  • Finally, he called a handyman who had advertised that he would take care of "everything your husband doesn't have time to fix."

    Argentina Answers 2007

  • You can make fresh and semi soft cheeses before you buy that refrigerator and expensive presses (though you can make a press and fix an old refrigerator - a handyman is usually cheaper that special equipment, especially if you have one at home; -)).

    Kefir? 2006

  • The story, that of a widower and a widow connecting with the help of their handyman, is pretty formulaic, and the characters are extremely two-dimensional, but I really liked the descriptions of the houses and the main character’s yacht.

    Miracle 2005

Comments

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  • Opposite of bumbleman.

    August 31, 2007