division of labour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (Academic, Business, Economics)
Quick answer
What does “division of labour” mean?
The separation of tasks in any production or process, where different people or groups specialize in specific activities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The separation of tasks in any production or process, where different people or groups specialize in specific activities.
A fundamental economic concept where production is divided into distinct tasks, each performed by specialists, to increase efficiency and output. Also used broadly to describe the assignment of different parts of a common task to different people in any collaborative effort.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK uses 'labour', US uses 'labor'. No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Neutral in academic contexts. In political/social discourse, can carry connotations of alienation (Marxist critique) or de-skilling.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties within economics and business registers.
Grammar
How to Use “division of labour” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] division of labour [VERB] efficiency.There is a division of labour between [NOUN PHRASE] and [NOUN PHRASE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “division of labour” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team will divide the labour according to expertise.
- How do you propose we divvy up the labour?
American English
- The project manager divided the labor efficiently.
- We need to split up the labor on this task.
adverb
British English
- The work was organised division-of-labour-wise.
- They proceeded in a division-of-labour fashion.
American English
- The tasks were split up division-of-labor style.
- They worked in a divided-labor manner.
adjective
British English
- The division-of-labour principle is key.
- They adopted a divisional labour structure.
American English
- The division-of-labor approach boosted productivity.
- A divided-labor system was implemented.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe departmental structure, outsourcing, and supply chain management to cut costs.
Academic
Core concept in economics, sociology, and anthropology. Used in analyses of industrialization, gender roles, and globalization.
Everyday
Used humorously or practically to describe sharing household chores (e.g., 'In our house, the division of labour means I cook and she does the laundry').
Technical
In biology/ethology: refers to specialized roles within social insect colonies (e.g., bees) or in cellular processes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “division of labour”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “division of labour”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “division of labour”
- Using 'labor/labour division' (less common). Mistaking it for 'distribution of wealth'. Incorrect article: 'a division of labour' (okay for a specific instance) vs. 'the division of labour' (the general concept).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Teamwork implies collaboration, but division of labour specifically refers to the *specialization* of tasks within that teamwork to increase efficiency.
Yes. Critics argue it can lead to worker alienation, repetitive and boring jobs, and over-dependence within a system (e.g., if one specialized node fails).
A system with low specialization, where individuals are generalists and perform a wide variety of tasks (e.g., a small startup, a subsistence farmer).
No. The term is applied to social insects (ants, bees), to organs within a body (physiological division of labour), and even in computer science (task distribution among processors).
The separation of tasks in any production or process, where different people or groups specialize in specific activities.
Division of labour is usually formal (academic, business, economics) in register.
Division of labour: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˌvɪʒ.ən əv ˈleɪ.bər/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˌvɪʒ.ən əv ˈleɪ.bɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(None directly associated; it is itself a technical term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an assembly line: DIVIDING the LABOUR makes the work faster.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRODUCTION IS A MECHANISM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS / SOCIETY IS AN ORGANISM WITH SPECIALIZED ORGANS.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'division of labour' LEAST commonly used in its technical sense?