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

Remote fieldwork, in particular, requires tackling a range of mental, physical, and logistical challenges. —Sarah Boon june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025

That doesn’t mean most people think these are good ideas: The survey, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates with fieldwork by Ipsos, finds that Americans by wide margins oppose these proposals. —Steven Sparks, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025

Don’t just film fieldwork; include people, places and behind-the-scenes action. —Marcus Squier, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Often in Land Power, examples of successful reforms come from Latin America, where Albertus has done fieldwork. —Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025

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