laborer

noun

la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər How to pronounce laborer (audio)
: one that labors
specifically : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages

Examples of laborer in a Sentence

He has been working as a laborer on a construction project. they could only find work as laborers unloading cargo ships
Recent Examples on the Web The region had been China’s industrial heartland, but suddenly millions of laborers were left unemployed. Vivian Wang, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Henríquez imagines a laborer, a stowaway and a scientist whose lives intersect during the canal’s construction. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Construction will need laborers, operating engineers, electrical power-line installers and repairers, and carpenters. Joan Michelson, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 And while the Chinese Exclusion Act, enacted in 1882, barred Chinese laborers from entering the country, many butcher shops found a way to challenge the restriction. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 Whether the situation might ease longtime hostility to foreign laborers would be left for another day. Harold Holzer, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024 The only laborers Ludvig manages to keep are a couple of runaway tenant farmers Johannes (Morten Hee Andersen) and Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin), whom Frederik also fancies his own. Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024 One key tilt in favor of the laborer in the market is the integration of remote work, however this advantage requires that interviewees demonstrate a level of self-leadership. James Powel, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2024 The Star-Telegram launched a Water Repairman’s Appreciation Fund to award bonuses to municipal laborers doing wet work in the frigid air that blew in from the Yukon. Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of laborer was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near laborer

Cite this Entry

“Laborer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laborer. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

laborer

noun
la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər How to pronounce laborer (audio)
: one that works
especially : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages

More from Merriam-Webster on laborer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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