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

City inspectors soon found site safety issues, including workers who were operating machinery without proper certification and an unpermitted supported scaffold in use, according to the Department of Buildings. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Remote workers may notice previously undiscovered issues with their home's heating and cooling systems. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Among the dozens of members that met Thursday were those from the police department, other county agencies, nonprofits and social workers. — Dennis Valera, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Health workers fighting to contain the spread of the Bundibugyo strain have been hampered by a lack of medical equipment, widespread misinformation, and, critically, the lack of a vaccine. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 30 July 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