spadework

noun

spade·​work ˈspād-ˌwərk 

1

: work done with a spade

2

: the hard plain preliminary drudgery in an undertaking

Examples of spadework in a Sentence

She had her assistants do the spadework in preparation for the trial.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the loss at the Mercedes plants will almost surely slow down the union’s campaign and probably force it to do more spadework to secure the support of workers before seeking to hold elections at other auto plants. —Jack Ewing, New York Times, 17 May 2024

In this peacemaking effort, the United States would have to do almost all the spadework. —Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024

Indeed, many diplomatic agreements are the product of several administrations, with one president benefiting from the spadework of predecessors. —Peter Baker, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2023

But the day-to-day spadework is already underway. —Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

spadework

noun

spade·​work ˈspād-ˌwərk 

1

: work done with the spade

2

: the hard plain work that must be done at the beginning of a project