paperwork

noun

pa·​per·​work ˈpā-pər-ˌwərk 

: routine clerical or recordkeeping work often incidental to a more important task

Examples of paperwork in a Sentence

She failed to file the paperwork on time.

The lawyer had us fill in the paperwork for the mortgage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Is your benefits administration platform actually reducing paperwork? —Tim Pratte, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

That could cause coverage lapses for people with incomes that fluctuate or for those who move and miss renewal paperwork. —Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2025

And Ramos and Anderson were also hit with charges for assisting voters in filling out an application for an absentee ballot and failing to sign that paperwork. —Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 31 July 2025

Candidates could start filing paperwork to run on Wednesday this week and have until Aug. 6, to submit affidavits of candidacy. —Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 31 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paperwork

• bodywork
• handiwork
• ironwork
• latticework
• masterwork
• metalwork
• needlework
• openwork
• overwork
• subnetwork
• artwork
• beadwork

Kids Definition

paperwork

noun

pa·​per·​work -ˌwərk 

: routine office or record-keeping work