job

1 of 4

noun (1)

plural jobs
1
a
: a regular remunerative position
got a part-time job as a waiter
she quit her job
b
: a specific duty, role, or function
The heart's job is to circulate blood.
c(1)
: something that has to be done : task
was given the job of delivering the bad news
(2)
: an undertaking requiring unusual exertion
it was a real job to talk over that noise
2
a
: a piece of work
doing odd jobs around the house
Repairing the roof was a big job.
especially : a small miscellaneous piece of work undertaken on order at a stated rate
a car that needs a brake job
b
: the object or material on which work is being done
c
: something produced by or as if by work
did a nice job
d
: an example of a usually specified type : item
the limousine was a long white job
3
a
: something done for private advantage
the whole incident was a put-up job
b
: a criminal enterprise
specifically : robbery
There comes a time in everyone's life when you need a lawyer. And I'm not implying that you're going to hold up a liquor store or pull a bank job anytime soon. Stephen Fenech
c
: a damaging or destructive bit of work
did a job on him
4
chiefly British : state of affairs
usually used with bad or good
it was a good job you didn't hit the old manE. L. Thomas
5
: plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes
an eye job
see nose job

job

2 of 4

verb

jobbed; jobbing

intransitive verb

1
: to do odd or occasional pieces of work for hire
supported himself by jobbing in local orchestras
2
: to carry on public business for private gain
3
: to carry on the business of a middleman or wholesaler

transitive verb

1
: to buy and sell (something, such as stock) for profit : speculate
2
: to hire or let by the job or for a period of service
job a carriage
3
: to get, deal with, or effect by jobbery
4
: to do or cause to be done by separate portions or lots : subcontract
often used with out
a publisher who knew the market might have jobbed out the work to factories in AsiaMichael Shnayerson
5
: to penalize or deprive unfairly
… fans and players who may still believe that … they were jobbed out of a World Championship …Roger Angell

job

3 of 4

adjective

1
: of or relating to a job or to employment
a guarantee of job security
2
: used in, engaged in, or done as job work
a job shop
3
British : that is for hire for a given service or period
a job gardener

Job

4 of 4

noun (2)

1
: the hero of the book of Job who endures afflictions with fortitude and faith
2
: a narrative and poetic book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see Bible Table
Phrases
on the job
: at work : while working
was injured on the job
Choose the Right Synonym for job

task, duty, job, chore, stint, assignment mean a piece of work to be done.

task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

Examples of job in a Sentence

Noun (1) He took a job as a waiter. She has a high-paying job on Wall Street. She's trying to get a job in New York. The new factory will create thousands of jobs. They offered him the job but he turned it down. The blood's job is to carry oxygen to the different parts of the body. Construction of the bridge turned out to be a bigger job than they had expected. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Fiserv joins Milwaukee Tool, others with downtown investments Since 2020, companies that are relocating or opening new offices are bringing more than 7,000 jobs to the downtown area, according to the Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024 Meta spokesperson Stacey Yip says the company strives to be fair and equitable to every job candidate. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 Ayotzinapa provided free tuition and board, and the possibility of a job teaching somewhere in a rural district. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Last month, officials in the Fort Worth Independent School District announced the district would need to cut 133 jobs, all but four of which are federally funded. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2024 Cowles, a Democrat, was first elected in 1996 to the job, which oversees elections in Orlando and surrounding communities. Mike Schneider, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Remote work also allowed Wilson, 39, to apply for more jobs outside the limits of his Auburn, Ala., home, where audio jobs are few and far between. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Going into the big event, just 38% of U.S. adults approve of how Biden is handling his job as president, while 61% disapprove. Josh Boak, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Beyond his fashion sense, Goreski is beloved for his humor, which also comes in handy for his job as a judge on Canada’s Drag Race. Kaitlin Stevens, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
As the program develops, Jordan said the school will job shadowing and collaborations with local community colleges. Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 2 Feb. 2024 Just like performers will run a dress rehearsal before the final show, so should job seekers conduct mock interviews with people who have hired before. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Given what these injuries do to job security, NFL players have a real incentive to hide their symptoms. James M. Smoliga, Dvm, Ars Technica, 10 Nov. 2023 In the dozens of lists circulating the internet that predict which jobs artificial intelligence will replace, graphic designers are often named. Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2023 The first is the real Shakespeare of 16th century London, a a commercially-minded, jobbing playwright who worked closely with a company of actors. Time, 16 Aug. 2023 There is a wide discrepancy between A-list stars who can earn $20 million a year and the jobbing performers who are lucky to make $30,000. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 19 July 2023 This recent investment is crucial to job stability for Unifor members ahead of contract talks starting in August. Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 7 June 2023 So, how can job seekers showcase these positive traits to hiring managers? Amy Blaschka, Forbes, 5 May 2023
Adjective
The students Cruzvergara work with often underplay their non-job experiences. Fortune, 1 June 2022 The City Council has been taking numerous anti-job actions, driving out employment from the city. Star Tribune, 21 May 2021 That's where the Supreme Court's anti-job discrimination decision could play a critical role. Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, 15 June 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'job.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1), Verb, and Adjective

perhaps from obsolete English job lump

Noun (2)

Latin, from Greek Iōb, from Hebrew Iyyōbh

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1558, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

1681, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of job was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near job

Cite this Entry

“Job.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/job. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

job

1 of 2 noun
ˈjäb
1
a
: a piece of work
especially : one done at a specified rate
b
: something produced by or as if by work
did a good job
2
: a special duty or function : task
your job is to mow the lawn
3
: a position at which one regularly works for pay
lost my job
jobless
-ləs
adjective
joblessness noun

Job

2 of 2 noun
: a narrative and poetic book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture see bible

Medical Definition

job

noun
: plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes
an eye job

Legal Definition

job

1 of 2 verb
jobbed; jobbing

intransitive verb

1
: to do odd or occasional pieces of work for hire
2
: to carry on the business of a middleman or wholesaler

transitive verb

1
: to buy and sell (as stock) for profit
2
: to hire or let by the job or for a period of service
3
: to do or cause to be done by separate portions or lots : subcontract

job

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: a piece of work
especially : a small miscellaneous piece of work undertaken on order at a stated rate
b
: the object or material on which work is being done
2
a
: a specific duty, role, or function
a job description
b
: a regular remunerative position

More from Merriam-Webster on job

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