coworking: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal (in business contexts); increasingly used in everyday contexts related to modern work.
Quick answer
What does “coworking” mean?
The practice of working from a shared office environment or other workspace, typically used by independent professionals, freelancers, or employees from different organizations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of working from a shared office environment or other workspace, typically used by independent professionals, freelancers, or employees from different organizations.
A modern professional and social configuration where individuals who are not employed by the same organization share a work setting to foster collaboration, reduce isolation, and share resources. This often includes access to desks, meeting rooms, Wi-Fi, and communal areas.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. British English may be more likely to hyphenate as 'co-working' (though 'coworking' is dominant).
Connotations
The concept is equally modern and associated with start-ups, freelancers, and flexible work in both regions.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects due to its global use in business and tech discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “coworking” in a Sentence
[verb] + coworking (e.g., offer, promote, use, facilitate coworking)[adjective] + coworking (e.g., flexible, modern, popular, professional coworking)coworking + [preposition] + [noun] (e.g., coworking for freelancers, coworking in the city)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coworking” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Freelancers in Bristol often cowork at The Guild.
- We're going to cowork at the new hub in Shoreditch next week.
American English
- She prefers to cowork at a local spot in Austin.
- The team decided to cowork at a space downtown for the project.
adverb
British English
- They work coworkingly from the shared hub. (Extremely rare/unidiomatic)
- Not standard usage.
American English
- Not standard usage.
- The term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The co-working culture in Manchester is thriving.
- They offer various coworking memberships.
American English
- We need to find a coworking office in Chicago.
- Coworking communities can boost networking.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a commercial service model (e.g., 'WeWork popularized the coworking model globally.')
Academic
Used in studies on urban planning, sociology of work, or business innovation (e.g., 'The paper examines the impact of coworking on entrepreneurial networks.')
Everyday
Used when discussing where one works, especially for freelancers or remote employees (e.g., 'I go to a coworking space twice a week to meet people.')
Technical
Used in real estate (flexible office space), tech industry discourse, and human resources (e.g., 'The software supports coworking space management.')
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coworking”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coworking”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coworking”
- Using 'coworking' as a verb in formal writing (better: 'to use a coworking space' or 'to work from a coworking hub').
- Misspelling as 'co-working' (acceptable variant) or 'co working'.
- Confusing it with simply 'working from a cafe' (coworking implies a dedicated, often paid, shared professional environment).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'coworking' and 'co-working' are used. The trend, especially in business and tech writing, is towards the closed form 'coworking'. Major dictionaries list both, but 'coworking' is becoming standard.
A traditional office is typically dedicated to a single company. Coworking involves a shared space used by multiple individuals or companies, often on flexible membership terms, with an emphasis on community and shared amenities.
The verb 'to cowork' exists but is less common and more informal than using the noun phrase (e.g., 'work from a coworking space'). In formal writing, it's safer to use the noun form.
No. While popular with freelancers and start-ups, large corporations now also use coworking spaces for satellite teams, project groups, or to offer flexible work options to employees, a practice sometimes called 'corporate coworking'.
The practice of working from a shared office environment or other workspace, typically used by independent professionals, freelancers, or employees from different organizations.
Coworking is usually neutral to formal (in business contexts); increasingly used in everyday contexts related to modern work. in register.
Coworking: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊˈwɜːkɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊˈwɜːrkɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is too recent and specific to have idiomatic expressions.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COllaborative WORKING. You CO-work with others in a shared WORKING space.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORKPLACE AS A COMMUNITY (rather than a corporate hierarchy).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the word 'coworking' in the sentence: 'The coworking movement started in the early 2000s.'?