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

A lot of the case seemed to come down to disorganization and messy paperwork. —Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026

UseLois independently handles a coordinator’s duties, managing the paperwork trail from contract to closing without manual oversight. —Sandra Barrera, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026

Suddenly, your life is a chaotic mix of doctors’ appointments, calls from insurance adjusters, and a pile of paperwork filled with confusing legal jargon. —William Jones, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026

According to court paperwork, just before noon on March 22, Ferree was driving through the Monongahela area and onto State Route 837, driving nearly 90 miles per hour in 35- and 45-mile-per-hour zones. —Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

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