laborer

noun

la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər 

: one that labors

specifically : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages

Synonyms

• dogsbody [chiefly British]
• drone
• drudge
• drudger
• foot soldier
• grub
• grubber
• grunt
• peon
• plugger
• slave
• slogger
• toiler
• worker

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

Vita's Ukrainian mother (my grandmother) survived as an orphan for two years under German occupation and barely evaded being carted off to Germany to work as a forced laborer. —Sasha Vasilyuk, Time, 8 May 2025

But, as Levi history tells it, the wife of a local laborer came to Davis asking for pants that wouldn’t fall apart. —Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 8 May 2025

Yet the maximum pay grade of a solid waste laborer is currently just $44,233. —Zac Blanchard, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2025

May 1 became associated with workers' rights in 1886 when hundreds of thousands of laborers in Chicago participated in a multi-day strike to push for an eight-hour workday. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing laborer

• day laborer

Kids Definition

laborer

noun

la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər 

: one that works

especially : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages