department of labor
C1Formal, Governmental, Legal, Academic
Definition
Meaning
A government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing matters related to workers, employment conditions, wages, workplace safety, and unemployment.
The specific administrative body within a national or state government that enforces labor laws, collects labor statistics, administers unemployment benefits, and promotes the welfare of workers. In the US, it refers specifically to the federal United States Department of Labor (DOL).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Capitalized when referring to a specific, named government body (e.g., the US Department of Labor). Often used with the definite article 'the'. It functions as a proper noun but can be used generically for similar agencies in other countries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the equivalent national body is historically the 'Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) or the 'Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy' (BEIS) for certain labor market functions. The phrase 'Department of Labor' is understood but not the official title of a UK ministry.
Connotations
In American English, it carries strong connotations of federal authority, labor law enforcement (e.g., OSHA, Wage and Hour Division), and economic data (e.g., Bureau of Labor Statistics). In British English, it is primarily a reference to American institutions.
Frequency
High frequency in US formal/official contexts; low frequency in UK contexts except when discussing US affairs.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] filed a complaint with the Department of Labor.The Department of Labor [Verb: issued/enforced/published] [Object].According to the Department of Labor, [clause].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a Department of Labor matter.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to compliance: 'Our policies must meet Department of Labor standards.'
Academic
Used in political science or economics: 'The Department of Labor's index is a key economic indicator.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation except when discussing specific issues: 'I had to call the Department of Labor about my unpaid wages.'
Technical
Precise reference in legal/HR contexts: 'OSHA, under the Department of Labor, conducted the inspection.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company was department-of-laboured for violations. (Note: highly informal/non-standard, illustrative only)
American English
- The firm got Department-of-Labor'd after the investigation. (Note: highly informal/non-standard, illustrative only)
adjective
British English
- The department-of-labour guidelines were updated. (hyphenated attributive use)
American English
- The Department of Labor report was published yesterday. (noun used attributively)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Department of Labor is a big office in the government.
- If your boss doesn't pay you, you can tell the Department of Labor.
- The Department of Labor released new data showing an increase in employment.
- In accordance with Department of Labor regulations, the company revised its overtime compensation policies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The DEPARTment you go to when your work makes you want to DEPART due to unfair conditions.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A PARENT (it oversees and protects workers); REGULATION IS A FRAMEWORK (it provides the rules for the labor market).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'отдел труда' (this sounds like a small unit within a company). The correct conceptual equivalent for the US body is 'Министерство труда США'. For a generic reference, 'государственная трудовая инспекция' or 'департамент по труду' (in a governmental sense) may be used.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect capitalisation when not a proper noun (e.g., 'I work for a Department of Labor' vs. 'I work for the Department of Labor').
- Using plural 'Departments of Labor' for a single entity.
- Confusing it with the 'Department of Commerce' or 'Department of Human Resources'.
Practice
Quiz
In which country is 'Department of Labor' the official name of a major federal agency?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Department of Labor (US) is a broad regulatory and statistical agency. A job centre (common in the UK) is a local office providing employment search services, often under a larger department like the DWP.
In American English, 'Labor Department' is a common shortened form. Using 'Labour' with a 'u' is the British spelling and would not be used for the official US agency name.
The Department of Labor is a government agency that creates and enforces laws for all workers and employers. A trade union is a private, membership-based organization that represents specific groups of workers in negotiations with employers.
Yes, most US states have their own Department of Labor or equivalent (e.g., Workforce Development agency) that enforces state labor laws and often works in conjunction with the federal DOL.