workstation
B2Neutral to formal, very common in professional and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A single physical location where a person works, often equipped with a computer, desk, and other necessary tools.
1. A high-performance computer system, often used for demanding tasks like engineering, design, or scientific research. 2. A defined space for an employee in an open-plan office. 3. In manufacturing, a specific location on an assembly line where a particular task is performed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning shifts from a physical space to a powerful computer system as the context becomes more technical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling is consistent. The term is used identically in both tech and office contexts.
Connotations
Neutral and functional in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English, given the global nature of computing and office design.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
at a/the workstationworkstation for (purpose)workstation with (features)workstation consisting ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. The term is mostly literal.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to an employee's assigned desk and computer setup. 'Hot-desking reduces the number of permanent workstations.'
Academic
Used in computer science and engineering to describe powerful computing systems for research. 'The lab has five new rendering workstations.'
Everyday
Less common, but can refer to a home office desk setup. 'I need to organise my home workstation.'
Technical
Specifically denotes a high-end computer optimized for scientific, engineering, or multimedia applications. 'This software requires a UNIX workstation.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A as a verb.
American English
- N/A as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A as an adverb.
American English
- N/A as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A as a pure adjective. Used attributively: 'workstation ergonomics', 'workstation configuration'.
American English
- N/A as a pure adjective. Used attributively: 'workstation graphics card', 'workstation-grade components'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My new workstation has a big computer screen.
- Please keep your workstation tidy.
- Every employee in the office has their own workstation.
- The IT department is upgrading all our workstations next week.
- As a graphic designer, I rely on a high-specification workstation to run complex software.
- The factory floor was redesigned to create more efficient workstations along the assembly line.
- The architect rendered the entire 3D model on a single powerful workstation overnight.
- The study examined the impact of personalised workstation configuration on employee productivity and well-being.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a train STATION: a specific place where a train (work) happens. A WORK-STATION is a specific place where work happens.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE OFFICE/COMPUTER IS A FACTORY (a workstation is a node on a production line).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as "рабочая станция" in everyday office contexts; "рабочее место" is more natural for a desk. "Рабочая станция" is acceptable for high-end computers.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'workplace' as a direct synonym (workplace is the entire building/company). Confusing it with 'work station' as two words (the single-word form is standard).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'workstation' LEAST likely to refer to a powerful computer?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always written as one word: 'workstation'.
A workstation is a type of desktop PC, but it implies higher performance, better reliability, and components suited for professional tasks like CAD, data science, or 3D rendering.
Yes, especially in office management and ergonomics, it refers to the physical setup (desk, chair, monitor, etc.), not just the computer.
Typically, 'workstation' implies a fixed location. However, high-performance laptops designed for similar professional tasks are often called 'mobile workstations'.