worker

noun

work·​er ˈwər-kər 

1

a

: one that works especially at manual or industrial labor or with a particular material

a factory worker

—often used in combination

b

: a member of the working class

2

: any of the sexually underdeveloped and usually sterile members of a colony of social ants, bees, wasps, or termites that perform most of the labor and protective duties of the colony

Synonyms of worker

• laborer
• slave

Examples of worker in a Sentence

The company is planning to hire 200 workers.

The average worker earned $1,000 more this year.

If management doesn't make the changes, the workers will go on strike.

They are both hard workers.

Recent Examples on the Web

The new buildings also provided cheaper housing options for Caracas workers who couldn’t afford to live in the city. — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026

During the decades following World War II, wages for lower-income workers rose alongside the productivity of the American economy. — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026

This time around, organizers can ask non-essential workers to work remotely. — Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Unfortunately, state lawmakers are already signaling their intention to eat up these gains by gifting new expensive pension benefit increases to influential public safety worker unions. — Zachary Christensen, Oc Register, 24 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing worker

• care worker
• co-worker
• day worker
• gig worker
• guest worker
• sex worker
• voluntary worker
• wonder-worker
• worker-priest

Rhymes for worker

• caseworker
• coworker
• farmworker
• woodworker

Kids Definition

worker

noun

work·​er ˈwər-kər 

1

a

: one that works

b

: a member of the working class

2

: one of the members of a colony of social ants, bees, wasps, or termites that are only partially developed sexually and that perform most of the labor and protective duties of the colony