co-worker
C1Neutral to formal. Common in professional, business, and everyday work contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A person who works alongside another in the same organisation or on the same task.
More broadly, someone with whom one shares a professional environment, responsibilities, or a common goal, implying a degree of collaboration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Emphasises shared workplace or project. Can imply more collaboration than 'colleague', which is broader and can refer to anyone in the same profession. Often used in contexts highlighting teamwork.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'co-worker' (with hyphen) is most common in both. 'Coworker' (closed) is increasingly accepted, especially in American English. 'Colleague' is more formal and common in UK professional contexts.
Connotations
UK: Slightly more formal than 'workmate'. US: Very common, standard term. In both, can feel slightly more specific to direct collaboration than 'colleague'.
Frequency
Very high frequency in US workplace English. High frequency in UK English, though 'colleague' competes strongly in formal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
co-worker of [person/team]co-worker on [project/task]co-worker at [company/department]co-worker from [previous job/division]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be on good terms with one's co-workers”
- “a co-worker in arms (humorous, for a close collaborator in a difficult project)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Standard term in HR, management, and internal communications. E.g., 'Please welcome our new co-workers.'
Academic
Used in organisational psychology, sociology of work, and business studies research.
Everyday
The most common term in casual conversation about work. E.g., 'I'm having lunch with a co-worker.'
Technical
Less common; specific roles (e.g., 'project team member', 'counterpart') are often preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We co-worked on the sustainability report for several months.
- The departments don't co-worker effectively.
American English
- We co-worked on the sustainability report for several months.
- The teams need to co-worker better on this initiative.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used. 'Collaboratively' is preferred) They worked co-workerly on the proposal. (Non-standard/forced).
American English
- (Rarely used. 'Collaboratively' is preferred) The engineers and designers worked co-workerly. (Non-standard/forced).
adjective
British English
- The co-worker dynamic in our open-plan office is quite positive.
- We have regular co-worker social events.
American English
- The co-worker relationship is key to project success.
- Our co-worker lunch group meets every Friday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My co-worker is very nice.
- I sit next to my co-worker.
- I often discuss projects with my co-workers.
- She became good friends with a co-worker from the sales team.
- Managing conflict between co-workers requires tact and good communication.
- Several of my former co-workers have moved to different companies.
- The study examined the correlation between co-worker support and job satisfaction.
- He was accused of undermining his co-workers to gain promotion.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CO-operating WORKER'. You CO-WORK with them.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORK IS A SHARED JOURNEY / TEAM IS A FAMILY (e.g., 'work spouse', 'office family' – though these are informal and can be problematic).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'совместный рабочий'. Use 'коллега' (colleague) as the closest equivalent, but note 'co-worker' can be more specific.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'coworker' (increasingly accepted) vs. 'co worker' (incorrect open form). Confusing with 'colleague' (broader). Using for a supervisor.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is generally broader and can include people you've never worked with directly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in American English. However, the hyphenated form 'co-worker' is still considered standard by many style guides and is more common in British English.
A 'colleague' can be anyone in your profession or organisation. A 'co-worker' typically implies you work directly alongside them, sharing tasks or a workspace. All co-workers are colleagues, but not all colleagues are co-workers.
No, it's awkward and not standard. 'Co-worker' implies a lack of hierarchical difference. Use 'manager', 'supervisor', 'boss', or 'senior colleague'.
Yes, but 'workmate' is more informal and conversational than 'co-worker', which is suitable for professional writing.