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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

laborer

LAY-b-r

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

Word forms

laborers plural

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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

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.

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