worker

noun

work·​er ˈwər-kər 

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

Synonyms of worker

• laborer
• slave

Examples of worker in a Sentence

The company is planning to hire 200 workers.

The average worker earned $1,000 more this year.

If management doesn't make the changes, the workers will go on strike.

They are both hard workers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Around 50 workers have been killed by Israeli fire, and more than 38,000 have been arrested, though many were later released, the official Palestinian WAFA news agency reported Sunday, citing the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions. —Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026

The facility will run around the clock, with most workers on four 10-hour shifts, with three days off. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 31 May 2026

And ceasefire, allowing complete unfettered access, and most importantly, a full respect for humanitarian law and humanitarian aid workers, and that simply isn't happening at all right now. —CBS News, 31 May 2026

Ranging from physical and occupational therapists to medical technologists, these workers handle all of the support services needed to carry out the wide range of health care activities that doctors order and oversee. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing worker

• care worker
• co-worker
• day worker
• gig worker
• guest worker
• sex worker
• voluntary worker
• wonder-worker
• worker-priest

Rhymes for worker

• caseworker
• coworker
• farmworker
• woodworker

Kids Definition

worker

noun

work·​er ˈwər-kər 

1

a

: one that works

b

: a member of the working class

2

: one of the members of a colony of social ants, bees, wasps, or termites that are only partially developed sexually and that perform most of the labor and protective duties of the colony