by trade
idiom
—used when indicating someone's job, especially a job that requires special training and skills and is done by using the hands
I am a carpenter/electrician/beautician by trade.
Examples of by trade in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With Sunday starter Ryan Yarbrough averaging five innings per start and De los Santos and Headrick having pitched in the first two games of the series, the Yankees opted for a fresh arm in Carrasco, a starter by trade.
—
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 June 2025
During peak periods, these outbreaks emerge from the coast of Africa every three to five days and can travel more than 5,000 miles to the west carried by trade winds to places including Florida, the Caribbean, Texas, Kansas and Central America and cover vast areas of the Atlantic Ocean.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
In 2019, Artemi Panarin decided to leave a Columbus team that had acquired him by trade for big-city life with the New York Rangers.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Duarte, an attorney by trade and regular who had been coming to Woody’s for 26 years, bought into the business two years ago after helping the restaurant with some legal work.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for by trade
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.
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 June 2025
During peak periods, these outbreaks emerge from the coast of Africa every three to five days and can travel more than 5,000 miles to the west carried by trade winds to places including Florida, the Caribbean, Texas, Kansas and Central America and cover vast areas of the Atlantic Ocean.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
In 2019, Artemi Panarin decided to leave a Columbus team that had acquired him by trade for big-city life with the New York Rangers.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Duarte, an attorney by trade and regular who had been coming to Woody’s for 26 years, bought into the business two years ago after helping the restaurant with some legal work.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for by trade
Cite this Entry
“By trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20trade. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share