labor
B2Formal; official (in US spelling). More common in American English.
Definition
Meaning
Physical or mental work, effort, or exertion.
The body of workers (collective noun); the process of childbirth; a task requiring hard work.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, refers to the act of working or the workforce as a collective. As a verb, means to work hard or to try very hard, often with difficulty. Has strong associations with the working class, trade unions, and economics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'labor' is the standard spelling. In British English, 'labour' is standard. The 'Labour Party' in the UK is a proper noun with its own spelling.
Connotations
In both, it can carry political connotations relating to the working class and trade unions. In the US, 'Labor Day' is a federal holiday.
Frequency
The spelling 'labor' is dominant in American English contexts. In British contexts, 'labour' is standard, making 'labor' a marker of American origin.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
labor under (a delusion/misapprehension)labor over (a task)labor to (achieve something)labor on (continue working)labor + noun (labor the point, labor the issue)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a labor of love”
- “labor the point”
- “hard labor”
- “fruit of one's labor”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to workforce, costs, and relations (e.g., 'labor shortage', 'labor productivity').
Academic
Used in economics, sociology, and history (e.g., 'the labor theory of value', 'organized labor').
Everyday
Common when discussing jobs, childbirth, or hard work (e.g., 'I labored all day in the garden', 'She went into labor').
Technical
Specific in medicine (childbirth) and law (penal 'hard labor').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They continued to labour under the false assumption.
- He laboured for years on his novel.
American English
- She labored for hours to fix the engine.
- The team labored to meet the deadline.
adverb
British English
- (No dedicated adverb; 'laboriously' is derived.)
American English
- (No dedicated adverb; 'laboriously' is derived.)
adjective
British English
- Labour relations are currently strained.
- He held a labour-intensive job.
American English
- Labor laws protect workers' rights.
- It's a labor-saving device.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My father does hard physical labor.
- The hospital has a special room for women in labor.
- The new law aims to reduce child labor.
- They labored all weekend to finish the project.
- The company's main cost is skilled labor.
- Economists are studying shifts in the global labor market.
- The artist's masterpiece was a true labor of love, taking a decade to complete.
- The report labors the point about efficiency without offering new solutions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'lab' - a place of hard work and effort. Labor is the work done in the 'lab' (and beyond).
Conceptual Metaphor
LABOR IS A BURDEN (e.g., 'weighed down by labor'); LABOR IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'the labors of Hercules'); LABOR IS A COMMODITY (e.g., 'the price of labor').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'лаборатория' (laboratory).
- The political/union sense ('Labour Party') is not directly equivalent to 'рабочая партия'.
- Avoid using 'труд' for every sense; 'работа' or 'усилие' might be better fits.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He labors the work.' (Redundant) Correct: 'He labors.' or 'He does the work.'
- Confusing 'labor' (work) with 'labour' (UK spelling) in inappropriate contexts.
- Using 'labor' as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I have three labors to do' is unusual).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'labor' used to mean 'the process of childbirth'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Labor' is the standard American English spelling. 'Labour' is the standard British English spelling. The meaning is identical.
Yes, it means to work hard, especially physically, or to proceed with difficulty (e.g., 'The engine labored up the hill').
Primarily uncountable as a noun (e.g., 'much labor'). It can be countable in specific contexts like 'the labors of Hercules' (tasks) or in politics ('the Labour Party').
It is an idiom meaning to explain or discuss something in excessive detail or for too long, especially when it's already understood.
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