labour
B2Formal to neutral; common in political, economic, and medical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Work, especially physical or difficult work.
The process of childbirth; a political party representing workers' interests (Labour Party).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Spelling distinguishes British English; often implies effort, struggle, or collective workforce.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: 'labour' (noun/verb). US: 'labor' (noun/verb). The 'u' is dropped in American spelling. The political party is 'Labour Party' (UK) vs. no direct equivalent in US politics.
Connotations
UK: Strong political connotations with the Labour Party. US: More neutral, often economic or medical (childbirth).
Frequency
High frequency in UK political/news contexts; common in US in medical ('in labour') and economic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
labour (over/at/under sth)labour to do sthlabour under a delusion/misapprehensionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a labour of Hercules”
- “labour the point”
- “labour under an illusion”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
We must reduce labour costs to remain competitive.
Academic
The theory examines the division of labour in post-industrial societies.
Everyday
After hours of hard labour, the garden was finally clear.
Technical
The patient was admitted to the delivery suite after her labour began.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She laboured for years to perfect her technique.
- The report labours the obvious points.
American English
- He labored under the mistaken belief he was alone.
- The engine labored up the steep hill.
adverb
British English
- He worked labouringly to meet the deadline. (rare)
American English
- The machine moved laboriously through the mud.
adjective
British English
- Labour laws protect workers' rights.
- A Labour MP gave a speech in Parliament.
American English
- Labor unions negotiated the new contract.
- She experienced labor pains.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My father does manual labour.
- The hospital has a labour ward.
- The new policy aims to create more labour jobs.
- She was in labour for twelve hours.
- The company faced criticism over its labour practices abroad.
- He laboured under the illusion that success would come easily.
- The government's reforms were seen as an affront to organised labour.
- The historian laboured to disentangle the complex motives behind the treaty.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LABOUR has a 'U' like the UK; LABOR in the US is shorter, like many American spellings.
Conceptual Metaphor
LABOUR IS A BURDEN / LABOUR IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'the labours of Hercules', 'go into labour').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'труд' which can be more generic 'work'. 'Labour' often implies more physical or collective effort.
- The political 'Labour Party' is not directly equivalent to any single Russian party.
- 'Childbirth' meaning is specific and not interchangeable with general 'work'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'labor' in UK English contexts.
- Misspelling as 'laber' or 'labar'.
- Using 'labour' as a direct synonym for 'job' (a job is a position, labour is the act of working).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the spelling 'labour' always correct?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both a noun (meaning work) and a verb (meaning to work hard or to explain something in excessive detail).
'Labour' often implies physical, strenuous, or difficult work, and can have collective or political connotations (e.g., the workforce). 'Work' is more general and neutral.
Use 'labour' for UK English in all contexts. Use 'labor' for US English in all contexts. The exception is proper nouns like the UK 'Labour Party', which retains its spelling globally.
Yes, in phrases like 'labour of love' (work done for pleasure, not reward) it has a positive connotation. However, it often carries a neutral or slightly negative sense of difficulty.