workforce

noun

work·​force ˈwərk-ˌfȯrs 

1

: the workers engaged in a specific activity or enterprise

the factory's workforce

2

: the number of workers potentially assignable for any purpose

the nation's workforce

Synonyms of workforce

• staff
• manpower
• personnel
• pool

Examples of workforce in a Sentence

We have a workforce of 2,400 people.

the office's entire workforce is devoted to a single project right now

Recent Examples on the Web

Community leaders, business owners and advocates met in Denver over the weekend looking for solutions to rising costs, workforce shortages, and immigration challenges. —Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026

Today, an ownership mindset now runs deep across Ingersoll Rand’s 21,700-person global workforce. —Vicente Reynal, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026

Ask someone with imagination to draw up a workforce housing model. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026

Miller wrote the play long before the rise of artificial intelligence sent shivers through the American workforce. —Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for workforce

• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce
• indorse
• midcourse
• outsource
• perforce
• racecourse
• racehorse
• remorse
• seahorse

Kids Definition

workforce

noun

work·​force ˈwərk-ˌfō(ə)rs 

-ˌfȯ(ə)rs

: the workers of a specific activity or business

the factory's workforce