job
A1Neutral; used in all registers from informal to formal.
Definition
Meaning
A paid position of regular employment.
A task or piece of work, especially one that is paid. Can refer broadly to any responsibility, function, or a specific piece of processing in computing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used to imply stability and routine ('a full-time job'), but can also refer to a single, specific task ('I have a little job for you'). In computing, it refers to a unit of work for the processor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Job centre' (UK) vs. 'employment/job center' (US). The verb form 'to job' is rare in both, but slightly more conceivable in UK historical contexts (e.g., 'jobbed in shares').
Connotations
Identical core meaning. Slight nuance: 'Job' as a single, specific task (e.g., 'a painting job') is very common in both, but 'gig' is an increasingly common US synonym for short-term/temporary work.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a job (as)get a job (with)apply for a job (at)do a job (for)lose one's job (at)job of + -ing (the job of managing)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a good job that...”
- “do the job”
- “make the best of a bad job”
- “a job lot”
- “on the job”
- “just the job”
- “jobs for the boys”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to roles, tasks, and employment. Central to HR and management discussions (e.g., 'job performance', 'job creation').
Academic
Used in economics, sociology, and business studies (e.g., 'job satisfaction', 'job market analysis').
Everyday
The primary word for one's employment ('Where's your job?') or a specific task ('I've got a few jobs to do around the house').
Technical
In computing, a unit of execution or a batch process (e.g., 'print job', 'background job').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He jobbed around in various trades before settling down.
- They were accused of jobbing the system.
American English
- The contractor jobbed out the electrical work.
- He jobbed in stocks for a quick profit.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) He was working job-wise.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) Things are going okay, job-wise.
adjective
British English
- The job centre was busy.
- He took a job-lot of old tools.
American English
- She attended a job fair on campus.
- The job market is competitive.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a new job in a school.
- He is looking for a job.
- My job starts at nine o'clock.
- I've just applied for a part-time job at the library.
- She did an excellent job organising the event.
- His main job is to answer customer enquiries.
- After graduating, she secured a demanding job in finance.
- The government's priority is job creation in the tech sector.
- The printer has a queue of five jobs to process.
- The consultant was brought in to job-out non-core functions.
- Despite its monotony, the job afforded him a degree of financial security he craved.
- He approached the delicate negotiation not as a conflict, but simply as a job to be done.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'JOB' as 'Just One Boss' – you have one main employer, or it's 'Just One Big' task.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOB (e.g., 'He's just doing his job' meaning fulfilling his role in life). A TASK IS AN OBJECT (e.g., 'I have a job on my hands').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'work' (работа) as an uncountable concept. 'Job' is countable. You 'look for a job', not 'look for a work'.
- 'Job' usually implies payment; a volunteer position is less likely to be called a 'job'.
- Avoid direct translation of 'работать' as 'to job'. The correct verb is 'to work' or 'to have a job'.
Common Mistakes
- *I am searching for a work. (Correct: I am searching for a job/work.)
- *It is a hard job to do. (Better: It is a hard job.)
- Using 'job' where 'task' or 'duty' is more precise (e.g., 'My job is to wash up' is fine, but 'My job as a citizen is to vote' is more abstract).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'job' is most likely to be found in a computing context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Job' is a countable noun for a specific paid position. 'Work' is an uncountable noun for the activity or place of employment. 'Career' refers to the long-term progression of one's professional life, often in a particular field.
It is neutral. It is appropriate in both casual conversation ('Nice job!') and formal documents ('Job Specification'). More formal synonyms in specific contexts include 'position', 'post', or 'appointment'.
Yes, but it is less common and often specialised. It can mean to do casual work ('job around'), to subcontract ('job out'), or to buy and sell goods for profit ('job in shares'). The much more common verb for employment is 'to work'.
In British English, 'It's a good job (that)...' means 'It's fortunate/lucky that...'. For example, 'It's a good job you brought an umbrella.' In American English, a similar meaning is often expressed with 'It's a good thing...'
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Routine
A1 · 50 words · Words for describing your everyday activities and schedule.
Work and Jobs
A2 · 49 words · Jobs, professions and the world of work.