laborer

noun

la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər 

: one that labors

specifically : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages

Synonyms of laborer

• worker
• slave

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

Built in 1610 by Spanish and Indigenous laborers, the church was destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt that drove Spanish colonizers out of the region for 12 years. — Dan Fellner, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Japanese laborers had been migrating to Hawaii since the 1890s, mainly to work on sugar plantations. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 21 Aug. 2026

This was followed by the establishment of regional rural banks starting in 1975, with the aim of lending to financially weaker rural groups, including marginal farmers, agricultural laborers, and small entrepreneurs. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 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

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