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

: horse sense 7

Examples of workhorse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This rolling island is the workhorse that's been missing, instantly expanding your workspace and streamlining meal prep. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026

The bulb vegetable is a workhorse used on sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and nachos as well as in sauces, salads, meatloaf, and more. — Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 14 June 2026

Presently, most commercial systems use a mixture of C-band (the workhorse) and L-band wavelengths. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026

The striped pistachio pants added a playful, fun touch to my office style, transforming plain wardrobe workhorses like my humble black cardigan into a more interesting outfit. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for workhorse

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

Kids 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