worker

noun work·er \ ˈwər-kər \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Definition of worker

1 a : one that works especially at manual or industrial labor or with a particular material

a factory worker

—often used in combination

b : a member of the working class

2 : any of the sexually underdeveloped and usually sterile members of a colony of social ants, bees, wasps, or termites that perform most of the labor and protective duties of the colony

See worker defined for English-language learners

See worker defined for kids

Examples of worker in a Sentence

The company is planning to hire 200 workers.
The average worker earned ,000 more this year.
If management doesn't make the changes, the workers will go on strike.
They are both hard workers.

Recent Examples of worker from the Web

Beijing, meanwhile, has unveiled measures to help Chinese companies absorb the U.S. trade blows, pledging to funnel money collected from its own import levies to firms and workers tangled in the escalating trade war.

— danielle paquette, latimes.com, "U.S. proposes tariffs on $200 billion more in Chinese imports," 11 July 2018
An alarm was triggered on the M/V Woods Hole’s starboard propeller Monday, and workers replaced a part of the mechanism later that day, according to the agency.

— jeremy c. fox, BostonGlobe.com, "Steamship Authority cancels ferry trips on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket routes," 10 July 2018
Demographic information about workers from Danish records allowed Dr. Gallen to calculate gender-specific productivity figures.

— eric morath, WSJ, "Mothers in Denmark Are Less Productive at Work, Study Finds, Partially Explaining Gender-Wage Gap," 10 July 2018
With more workers feeling assured of finding better employment, sustained wage gains may soon follow.

— shobhana chandra, chicagotribune.com, "A record number of Americans are quitting their jobs," 10 July 2018
The attack on the Skripals worsened the already tense relations between Russia and the West, prompting the expulsion of Russian diplomats and embassy workers from several countries and retaliatory expulsions by Moscow.

— New York Times, "Britain Suggests Russia Is Behind Latest Nerve Agent Case," 9 July 2018
County elections workers will be joined by staff from state, Carroll and Baltimore county elections offices.

— kate magill, Howard County Times, "Howard council incumbent seeks recount after two-vote loss," 9 July 2018
Domestic workers have long grappled with many of the issues plaguing the gig economy today.

— miranda katz, WIRED, "How an App Could Give Some Gig Workers a Safety Net," 9 July 2018
But the massive Alexander Calder sculpture in Burr Mall, between the Atheneum and City Hall, sits behind temporary chain-link fencing as workers install a fountain to flow under the sculpture.

— susan dunne, courant.com, "The Sculptures Outside The Wadsworth, Explained," 9 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'worker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of worker

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

worker Synonyms

WORKER Defined for English Language Learners

worker

noun

Definition of worker for English Language Learners

: a person who does a particular job to earn money
: a person who is actively involved in a particular activity
: a person whose job does not involve managing other people

WORKER Defined for Kids

worker

noun work·er \ ˈwər-kər \

Definition of worker for Students

1 : a person who works

cafeteria workers

He's a good worker.

2 : one of the members of a colony of bees, ants, wasps, or termites that do most of the work of the colony

Learn More about worker

See words that rhyme with worker Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for worker Spanish Central: Translation of worker Nglish: Translation of worker for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of worker for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about worker

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up worker? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

worker

Definition of worker

Examples of worker in a Sentence

Recent Examples of worker from the Web

First Known Use of worker

worker Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to WORKER

Related Phrases

WORKER Defined for English Language Learners

worker

Definition of worker for English Language Learners

WORKER Defined for Kids

worker

Definition of worker for Students

Learn More about worker

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Is 'Consensus of Opinion' Redundant?

Obscure Shapes

Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Trending: Ocasio-Cortez Sparks 'Socialism' Lookups

Ghost Word