workforce

noun

work·​force ˈwərk-ˌfȯrs 

1

: the workers engaged in a specific activity or enterprise

the factory's workforce

2

: the number of workers potentially assignable for any purpose

the nation's workforce

Synonyms of workforce

• staff
• manpower
• personnel
• pool

Examples of workforce in a Sentence

We have a workforce of 2,400 people.

the office's entire workforce is devoted to a single project right now

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials said the agreement aligns with growing national efforts to strengthen workforce readiness through such education and industry collaborations. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026

Further, ongoing professional services were often required to maintain the model, particularly when it was extended beyond finance to other domains such as supply chain and workforce planning. —Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026

The pay ratio figures show the gap between CEOs and their workforces has widened every year since 2022. —Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 20 June 2026

And once you’re retired, returning to the workforce is seldom easy. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for workforce

• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce
• indorse
• midcourse
• outsource
• perforce
• racehorse
• remorse
• seahorse
• workhorse

Kids Definition

workforce

noun

work·​force ˈwərk-ˌfō(ə)rs 

-ˌfȯ(ə)rs

: the workers of a specific activity or business

the factory's workforce