workhorse
noun
work·horse
ˈwərk-ˌhȯrs 
1
: a horse used chiefly for labor as distinguished from driving, riding, or racing
2
a(1)
: a person who performs most of the work of a group task
(2)
: a hardworking person
b
: something that is markedly useful, durable, or dependable
c
Examples of workhorse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The company’s current workhorse rocket is the Falcon 9, which has completed over 50 missions so far in 2026.
—
Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 9 May 2026
On sale now for 50 percent off, these Patagonia Utility Pants are about to become the workhorse of your spring packing list, and they’re fully stocked in sizes ranging from 0 to 22.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
The Falcon 9 rocket is the workhorse of the modern space industry, launching 165 times last year alone, 12 times more than Saturn V did in its entire career.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 May 2026
Karel Vejmelka emerged as a true workhorse and backstopped the Utah Mammoth to their first playoff appearance since relocating to Salt Lake City.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for workhorse
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Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 9 May 2026
On sale now for 50 percent off, these Patagonia Utility Pants are about to become the workhorse of your spring packing list, and they’re fully stocked in sizes ranging from 0 to 22.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
The Falcon 9 rocket is the workhorse of the modern space industry, launching 165 times last year alone, 12 times more than Saturn V did in its entire career.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 May 2026
Karel Vejmelka emerged as a true workhorse and backstopped the Utah Mammoth to their first playoff appearance since relocating to Salt Lake City.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for workhorse
Cite this Entry
“Workhorse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workhorse. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
workhorse
noun
work·horse
ˈwərk-ˌhȯ(ə)rs
1
: a horse used for hard work (as on a farm)
2
a
: a person who does most of the work of a group task
b
: something that is useful, durable, or dependable
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