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

• dogsbody [chiefly British]
• drone
• drudge
• drudger
• foot soldier
• grub
• grubber
• grunt
• laborer
• peon
• plugger
• slave
• slogger
• toiler

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

Sometime later, a passing pipeline company worker pulled the vehicle from the ditch. —Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024

The company issued a follow-up notification at 10:41 a.m. that workers responded to a vapor release while performing maintenance on equipment. —Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024

A number of people, not just agricultural workers, live on dairies and ranches in the park. —Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024

Every industry relies on seasoned pros to pick up the slack — like the adage that 20 percent of workers do 80 percent of the work. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024

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

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