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

When asked how many Fort Worth ISD teachers are uncertified this school year, Licata estimated around 350, noting that many of them are career and technical education teachers joining the district from the workforce. — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026

Our medical school is essential to the physician workforce pipeline for the state. — Opinion, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026

The effort focuses on augmenting the existing workforce instead of replacing skilled trades. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026

Those costs would include infrastructure build-outs, as well as research and development, transportation networks, and workforce training. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 5 Aug. 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