laborer
B2Formal to neutral; more common in writing, official contexts, or discussions of economics/workforce.
Definition
Meaning
A person who does physical work, especially of an unskilled or manual kind, often for daily wages.
More broadly, any person who works hard at a physically demanding or repetitive task; can sometimes imply someone working for someone else's benefit or profit.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Specifically denotes a manual, non-specialized worker. Can have a slightly dated or formal feel compared to 'worker'. In modern contexts, often qualified (e.g., 'construction laborer', 'farm laborer').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English uses 'labourer'. American English uses 'laborer'.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word can carry connotations of low-skilled, hard, physical toil. In some historical/socioeconomic contexts, it can have a class-based connotation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, as terms like 'manual worker' or simply 'worker' are often preferred in modern British usage outside specific job titles.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
laborer for [company/organization]laborer on [site/project]laborer in [industry/field]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a day's laborer (rare, biblical)”
- “hewers of wood and drawers of water (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports on workforce composition, labor costs, and industry analysis (e.g., 'The project requires 50 additional laborers.').
Academic
Common in historical, sociological, and economic texts discussing class, industrialization, and labor markets.
Everyday
Less common in casual conversation; more likely when referring to specific job types (e.g., 'He works as a laborer on a construction site.').
Technical
Used in construction, agriculture, and logistics to specify a type of non-specialized onsite worker.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable; noun only.
American English
- Not applicable; noun only.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable; noun only.
American English
- Not applicable; noun only.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable; noun only.
American English
- Not applicable; noun only.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle is a laborer. He works outside.
- The company hired several new labourers for the building site.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LABOR' + 'ER' — the one who performs the LABOR.
Conceptual Metaphor
LABORER AS A TOOL: The laborer is an instrument of production, valued for physical output.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лаборант' (lab assistant). 'Laborer' is 'рабочий' (physical worker), 'чернорабочий', or 'подёнщик' (day laborer).
- Avoid the direct calque 'трудовой работник'; it is unnatural.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'labourer' in American English or 'laborer' in British English is incorrect.
- Using it as a synonym for any 'employee' (it specifically implies manual work).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'laborer' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Laborer' specifically implies manual, often unskilled or semi-skilled, physical work. 'Worker' is a general term for anyone employed, including office, skilled, and professional staff.
It is a standard, formal term, but its respectfulness depends on context. In official/job titles, it's neutral. In casual conversation, specifying the industry (e.g., 'construction worker') can sometimes sound less dated or more precise.
In British English, it is spelled 'labourer' (labour + er).
Typically, it refers to unskilled or semi-skilled manual work. For skilled manual work, terms like 'craftsman', 'technician', or 'skilled worker' are more common. However, it can be qualified as 'skilled laborer' in some industries.