coworker
highformal, neutral
Definition
Meaning
A person with whom one works, typically sharing the same employer or working on the same project.
Any fellow member of a professional or organizational group with whom one collaborates or shares a workplace environment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a relationship of equal professional standing and shared purpose, though not necessarily the same job title or level.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Coworker' is predominantly American English; British English overwhelmingly prefers 'colleague' or less formally 'workmate'. The hyphenated form 'co-worker' is also common in both varieties.
Connotations
In the UK, 'coworker' can sound distinctly American. 'Colleague' may carry slightly more formal/professional weight in British contexts.
Frequency
'Coworker' is extremely frequent in American workplace vocabulary. In the UK, 'colleague' is dominant in formal contexts, with 'workmate' common in informal speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
coworker + verb (e.g., my coworker suggested...)adjective + coworker (e.g., supportive coworker)coworker + preposition + department (e.g., coworker in marketing)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Get along with one's coworkers.”
- “A rift between coworkers.”
- “To be on good terms with one's coworkers.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Standard term for referring to fellow employees in corporate communications and HR documents.
Academic
Used in organizational psychology and business studies research papers.
Everyday
Common in conversations about office life, job satisfaction, and workplace conflicts.
Technical
Less common; specific roles like 'project teammate' or 'code reviewer' might be used instead in tech fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We are co-working on the new sustainability report.
- They have co-worked in the past.
American English
- She coworkers from a shared office space downtown.
- I've coworked with him on several projects.
adverb
British English
- They worked coworkingly to solve the issue. (Rare)
- The project was completed coworkingly. (Rare)
American English
- They collaborated coworkingly on the proposal. (Rare)
- The team functions coworkingly. (Rare)
adjective
British English
- The co-worker dynamic in that team is very positive.
- We discussed coworker relations.
American English
- Coworker relationships are key to a healthy culture.
- He faced a coworker conflict last month.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My coworker sits next to me.
- I like my new coworker.
- A coworker helped me today.
- I often have lunch with my coworkers.
- One of my coworkers is on holiday this week.
- We need to improve communication between coworkers.
- She has a strained relationship with a coworker from another department.
- The team-building event was designed to foster trust among coworkers.
- He was accused of unethical behaviour by a former coworker.
- Navigating the political nuances among senior coworkers requires considerable social intelligence.
- The study examines how perceived fairness affects coworker solidarity in multinational corporations.
- Her initiative successfully mediated the longstanding conflict between two key coworkers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CO-WORKER = COllaborating WORKER. You work CO-operatively with them.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORKPLACE AS COMMUNITY (members are coworkers), WORK AS A JOURNEY (coworkers are fellow travelers).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'совработник' (not used).
- Do not confuse with 'сотрудник' which means 'employee' generally, not specifically a fellow one.
- 'Коллега' is the safest direct translation.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'coworker' vs. 'co-worker' (both accepted, latter is clearer).
- Using 'coworker' for a boss (incorrect; implies similar level).
- Pronouncing it as /kaʊˈwɜːkər/ (incorrect; first syllable is 'co' as in 'co-op').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST appropriate synonym for 'coworker' in a formal business report?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'coworker' and 'co-worker' are correct. The hyphenated form is often preferred for clarity, especially in formal writing.
In American English, they are largely synonymous. In British English, 'colleague' is more formal and universal, while 'coworker' feels American. Some perceive 'colleague' as covering all professional associates, even in different organisations.
Typically, no. 'Coworker' implies a relationship of approximate equality and shared work, not a hierarchical supervisor-subordinate relationship.
Yes, 'coworker' is inherently gender-neutral. Terms like 'male coworker' or 'female coworker' are used only when specifying gender is relevant.
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