journal

UK: /ˈdʒɜː^rn^əl/ US: /ˈdʒɝnəl/ ,( jûr′nl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

jour•nal /ˈdʒɜrnəl/   n. [countable]

1. a daily record that is written down, usually in a small book, of things that happen, things one sees, or things one thinks about:
   to keep a journal.
2. a daily newspaper.
3. a periodical or magazine, esp. one devoted to a special interest:
   a business journal.

See -jour-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

jour•nal  ( jûr′nl), n. 

1. a daily record, as of occurrences, experiences, or observations:
   She kept a journal during her European trip.
2. a newspaper, esp. a daily one.
3. a periodical or magazine, esp. one published for a special group, learned society, or profession:
   the October issue of
   The English Journal.
4. a record, usually daily, of the proceedings and transactions of a legislative body, an organization, etc.
5. Business [Bookkeeping.]
   • a daybook.
   • Business (in the double-entry method) a book into which all transactions are entered from the daybook or blotter to facilitate posting into the ledger.
6. Nautical, Naval Terms a log or logbook.
7. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] the portion of a shaft or axle contained by a plain bearing.

• Late Latin diurnālis diurnal
• Old French journal daily (adjective, adjectival and noun, nominal)
• Middle English 1325–75

jour′nal•ar′y, adj. 
jour′nal•ish, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

journal / ˈdʒɜːn^əl/ noun

1. a newspaper or periodical
2. a book in which a daily record of happenings, etc, is kept
3. an official record of the proceedings of a legislative body
4. 
   Also called: Book of Original Entry one of several books in which transactions are initially recorded to facilitate subsequent entry in the ledger
5. another name for daybook
6. the part of a shaft or axle in contact with or enclosed by a bearing

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French: daily, from Latin diurnālis; see diurnal