English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

laborer

LAY-b-r
Quiz me More like this

Laborer (noun) means someone who does physical work, especially unskilled manual work, often paid by the hour. Example: “The laborers arrived at dawn to start pouring the concrete.”

noun
1
Someone who does physical work, especially unskilled manual work, often paid by the hour.
"The laborers arrived at dawn to start pouring the concrete."
"He worked as a laborer on building sites before training as an electrician."

How to use laborer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA worker who does physical, hands-on jobs rather than office or skilled trade work.

UK vs US

US spelling; British English uses "labourer."

Common pairings
manual laborer construction laborer day laborer
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like laborer.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
laborers
Test yourself on “laborer” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ arrived at dawn to start pouring the concrete.

Etymology

From "labor" plus the agent suffix "-er," meaning "one who labors."

jack labourer manual laborer

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for laborer

See all rhymes for laborer →

Frequently asked questions

What does “laborer” mean?
The word “laborer” means someone who does physical work, especially unskilled manual work, often paid by the hour. In plain terms, a worker who does physical, hands-on jobs rather than office or skilled trade work.
How do you pronounce “laborer”?
“Laborer” is pronounced LAY-b-r (/ˈleɪ.bɚ.ɹɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “laborer” in a sentence?
Here is “laborer” used in a sentence: “The laborers arrived at dawn to start pouring the concrete.”
What part of speech is “laborer”?
“Laborer” is a noun.

Featured in

People also searched