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

These activities were all conducted without teacher supervision during fieldwork. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

Science teachers have joined our fieldwork to collect fossils along the Panama Canal during its recent expansion. —Bruce J. MacFadden, The Conversation, 8 May 2025

But recent fieldwork at a cluster of islands in the Gulf of California appears to challenge this widespread assumption. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Apr. 2025

Unlike conventional tutoring, the latter revolved around hands-on, practical courses, teaching Vincent the ins and outs of fieldwork and international humanitarian law, including driving a four-wheel in the bushes, using a VHF radio, or passing through an army checkpoint safely. —Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024

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