noun

work ethic

WURK ETH-ik

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Work ethic (noun) means a person's attitude to work, and how hard, reliably and conscientiously they apply themselves to it. Example: “Her work ethic is the reason she was promoted twice in a year.”

noun

A person's attitude to work, and how hard, reliably and conscientiously they apply themselves to it.

"Her work ethic is the reason she was promoted twice in a year."

"Talent got him into the squad; his work ethic kept him there."

A shared belief within a culture or organisation that hard work is virtuous and worth doing for its own sake.

"The company's work ethic runs on long hours and little praise."

"Sociologists still argue about the Protestant work ethic."

How to use work ethic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHow hard and reliably somebody works.

When to use it

Two words, not one; "workethic" is always wrong. Almost always modified — a strong, poor or relentless work ethic — and a staple of job applications and references, where it risks sounding like filler unless backed by an example.

Memory tip

Work ethic is about attitude and consistency, not hours logged. Someone can work very long hours and still have a poor work ethic if the work is careless.

Easily confused with

work rate workflow professionalism →

Common pairings

strong work ethic poor work ethic Protestant work ethic instil a work ethic

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “work ethic” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her _____ is the reason she was promoted twice in a year.

Synonyms

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diligence industriousness dedication application graft work culture ethos

Antonyms

laziness idleness complacency

Related words

care program industry drive station join effort labour

Rhymes for work ethic

ethic

See all rhymes for work ethic →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between work ethic and work rate?

Work rate is how much you get through in a given time, a measure of output. Work ethic is the attitude behind it — turning up, taking care, finishing what you started. A high work rate with a weak work ethic produces fast, sloppy work.

How do you describe a strong work ethic on a CV?

Do not just claim it. Show it with something checkable: a deadline you met under pressure, a process you improved, a period of cover you took on. Recruiters treat the bare phrase "strong work ethic" as filler.

What is the Protestant work ethic?

It is the idea, associated with the sociologist Max Weber, that certain Protestant beliefs encouraged disciplined labour and thrift, and that this attitude helped shape modern capitalism. It is a much-debated historical argument, not a settled fact.

What is the meaning of work ethic?

"work ethic" (noun) means a person's attitude to work, and how hard, reliably and conscientiously they apply themselves to it.

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