fieldwork

noun

field·​work ˈfēld-ˌwərk 

1

: a temporary fortification thrown up by an army in the field

2

: work done in the field (as by students) to gain practical experience and knowledge through firsthand observation

3

: the gathering of anthropological or sociological data through the interviewing and observation of subjects in the field

field-worker

ˈfēld-ˌwər-kər 

noun

Examples of fieldwork in a Sentence

an anthropologist who has done fieldwork in the South Pacific

Recent Examples on the Web

What the Discovery Means for Science and Conservation The findings emerged from fieldwork conducted between 2018 and 2020, but the story began about 17 years ago with long-standing rumors in Central Africa that tiny fish were somehow able to climb waterfalls. —Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026

That changed when researchers began closely studying the Luvilombo Falls through fieldwork conducted between 2018 and 2020. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

In his ethnographic fieldwork—observing real humans interacting with real robots in natural environments, rather than online experiments with images—race has not surfaced as a significant factor. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026

How the Giant Salamander Was Found in California During fieldwork at Point Reyes National Seashore, Michael Reichmuth documented California giant salamander larvae (Dicamptodon ensatus) in the wild for the first time through photography, according to National Park Service. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fieldwork

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• earthwork