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

The scientists spotted the fungus during fieldwork in the temperate coniferous forests near Damaidi and Yipinglang and in a tropical rainforest near Nanbang in southern China. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026

The team arrived shortly after sunset, so fieldwork was postponed until morning. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Their fieldwork just so happens to take them to Pompeii, circa 79 AD. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

That research draws on older fieldwork, and conditions have not improved since. — Clarissa Windham-Bradstock, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 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