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

Homeless services workers were communicating with unhoused people near the river to tell them about the spill and to offer services, according to the statement. —Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026

As workers and retirees decide where to live, states that have low tax and regulatory burdens, targeted relief, and stronger budget discipline tend to gain residents, income, and reduce costs for families. —Nicole Huyer, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026

Authorities in northeastern Congo have now banned funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people, and armed soldiers and police are guarding some burials carried out by aid workers. —ABC News, 24 May 2026

Over 157,000 tech workers lost their jobs in 2025 alone, with Amazon, Google, and Microsoft each cutting tens of thousands of roles, and many of those workers had spent years folding their identity into a company name. —Juliette Han, Forbes.com, 24 May 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