joe

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈjō How to pronounce joe (audio)
Synonyms of joenext
: coffee sense 1a

Joe

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈjō How to pronounce Joe (audio)
variants or less commonly joe
plural Joes also joes
: boy, man
an average Joe
… a show that features regular Joes and Janes from around the country battling trained athletes in contests of strength and speed …—Steve Weinstein

Synonyms of joe

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Noun (2)

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Examples of joe in a Sentence

Noun (2) your average joe isn't a particularly big fan of the opera
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
To that end, the bulk of the episode is about that exposure, with Lamb’s joes still scrambling for safety on multiple fronts. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 Athletes project regular-joe public images while living amid yacht-and-helicopter splendor. — New York Times, 22 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps alteration of java

Noun (2)

from Joe, nickname for Joseph

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1911, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of joe was in 1846

Phrases Containing joe

Rhymes for joe

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Browse Nearby Words

jody
joe
Joe
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Cite this Entry

“Joe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joe. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about joe

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