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noun A1 Beginner Very common

job

job

Job (noun) means a paid position of regular employment. Example: “She finally landed a job at the local hospital.”

noun
1
A paid position of regular employment.
"She finally landed a job at the local hospital."
"He's been searching for a new job for months."
2
A particular task or piece of work to be done.
"Painting the fence is a job for the weekend."
3
Informal for a robbery or heist.
"The gang pulled off one last job before retiring."
4
A corrupt or self-serving act carried out under the appearance of official duty.
"Critics called the contract award a complete job, rigged from the start."
verb
1
To work irregularly, taking on individual pieces of paid work.
"He jobbed as a handyman between full-time contracts."

How to use job

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly, paid work or employment — but also any task, and informally a robbery.

Common mistake

Job (lowercase) meaning work is unrelated to Job the biblical figure — the connection is coincidental spelling, not etymology.

Common pairings
land a job do a good job pull a job lose one's job

Word forms

jobbed past tense, jobbed past tense, jobs plural, jobs plural, Jobs plural, jobs singular, jobs singular

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Test yourself on “job” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She finally landed a _____ at the local hospital.

Etymology

From the Middle English phrase "jobbe of work" (a piece of work); ultimate origin uncertain.

Origin: Middle English

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “job” mean?

The word “job” means a paid position of regular employment. In plain terms, most commonly, paid work or employment — but also any task, and informally a robbery.

How do you pronounce “job”?

“Job” is pronounced job (/dʒɑb/ in IPA).

How do you use “job” in a sentence?

Here is “job” used in a sentence: “She finally landed a job at the local hospital.”

What part of speech is “job”?

Depending on how it is used, “job” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “job” come from?

The word “job” comes from Middle English. From the Middle English phrase "jobbe of work" (a piece of work); ultimate origin uncertain.

Is “job” a common word?

“Job” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “job” have?

“Job” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a paid position of regular employment.

What is the difference between a job and a career?

A job is a specific paid position — the particular role you hold, such as a cashier or a nurse. A career is the longer path of professional life, often spanning many jobs in the same field over years. You can change jobs several times while building a single career.

What is the difference between a job and work?

A job is a specific paid position of regular employment. 'Work' is the broader activity or effort itself, which can exist with or without pay — housework and volunteering are work but not jobs. In short, a job is something you have, while work is something you do.

What are the main types of job?

Jobs are often grouped by hours and arrangement: full-time and part-time roles, temporary or seasonal positions, permanent posts, and freelance or contract work. They can also be described by pay structure — salaried or hourly — or by field, such as manual, office, skilled, or professional work.

What is an example of a job?

Common examples include teacher, nurse, electrician, driver, shop assistant, and software developer. Each is a paid position of regular employment with defined duties and set hours. Almost any role someone is paid to do on an ongoing basis — from farming to accountancy — counts as a job.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial