worker
WUR-kuh
Worker (noun) means a person who performs labor, especially for pay. Example: “The factory employs over two hundred workers.”
noun
1
A person who performs labor, especially for pay.
"The factory employs over two hundred workers."
"She's a dedicated healthcare worker."
"Each worker at the bakery starts before dawn to prepare the bread."
2
A non-reproductive social insect, such as a worker bee or ant, that performs labor for the colony.
"Worker bees collect nectar and defend the hive."
"A worker ant carries food back to the nest for the others."
"The colony depends on thousands of workers that clean the nest and feed the young."
How to use worker
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or, in insects, something) that does labor.
Common pairings
factory worker
worker bee
skilled worker
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Word forms
- Plural
- workers
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The factory employs over two hundred _____.
Etymology
From "work" plus the suffix "-er," denoting someone who does the action. It gradually replaced the older word "wright."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for worker
See all rhymes for worker →Frequently asked questions
What does “worker” mean?
The word “worker” means a person who performs labor, especially for pay. In plain terms, someone (or, in insects, something) that does labor.
How do you pronounce “worker”?
“Worker” is pronounced WUR-kuh (/ˈwɝ.kɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “worker” in a sentence?
Here is “worker” used in a sentence: “The factory employs over two hundred workers.”
What is another word for “worker”?
Words with a similar meaning to “worker” include proletarian.
What is the opposite of “worker”?
The opposite of “worker” — its antonyms — are boss, chief, director, employer and leader.
What part of speech is “worker”?
“Worker” is a noun.
Is “worker” a common word?
“Worker” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “worker” have?
“Worker” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who performs labor, especially for pay.
What is the difference between a worker and an employee?
Every employee is a worker, but not every worker is an employee. 'Worker' is the broad term for anyone who does labour, including freelancers, contractors, and the self-employed. 'Employee' is narrower, describing someone hired under a contract of employment with a single employer, usually with greater rights and benefits.
What are the different types of workers?
Workers can be grouped in many ways: by hours (full-time or part-time), by contract (permanent, temporary, freelance, or agency), and by the nature of the job (manual, skilled, clerical, or professional). Terms like blue-collar and white-collar also distinguish hands-on labour from office-based work.
What is an example of a worker?
Almost anyone who performs labour for pay is a worker: a factory operative, a nurse, a builder, a shop assistant, a software developer, or a farmhand. The word applies across every industry and skill level, from entry-level roles to highly trained specialists, wherever effort is exchanged for wages.
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