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laborer

noun

la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər How to pronounce laborer (audio)
Synonyms of laborernext
: one that labors
specifically : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages

Examples of laborer in a Sentence

He has been working as a laborer on a construction project. they could only find work as laborers unloading cargo ships
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Priced originally at seven guineas, which was more than the annual wages of a laborer at the time, this game set would have been affordable only for the very wealthy. JSTOR Daily, 26 Nov. 2025 Among specific jobs, roughly 574,700 people are employed as construction laborers, followed by 364,200 maids and housekeepers, and 335,200 cooks. Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 24 Nov. 2025 In the Denis Johnson novella the film is based on, that co-worker is a Chinese laborer accused of theft; Grainier tries to help kill him and believes that all his misfortune afterward is due to being cursed by the man, who escapes. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025 The Hispanic community makes up half of Yakima County’s population, a legacy that began when laborers from Mexico were brought in during World War II to fill farm jobs. Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for laborer

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of laborer was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Laborer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laborer. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

laborer

noun
la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər How to pronounce laborer (audio)
: one that works
especially : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages

More from Merriam-Webster on laborer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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