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

Goldman Sachs said in a note that drought during the growing season could lower cane yields, while excessive rainfall during harvest could interrupt fieldwork and reduce the sugar content of cane. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026

That fieldwork became the foundation for a fictional narrative built around migration, masculinity, aspiration, labor and belonging. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

My beloved barn jacket dates back to 19th-century France—referred to as a chore coat or bleu de travail—where it was worn among farmers and laborers who relied on its tough, moleskin fabric to get them through fieldwork. — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Aug. 2026

The next phase is fieldwork and feedback The subsurface dam project is still in the exploratory phase, and Savage emphasized that a lot of research and outreach would happen before any concrete plans could be made. — Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 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