ENGLISH
REFERENCE

coworker

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈkoʊˈwɝkɝ// co·work·er Vulgar

n. someone you work with, usually at the same level as you in a company.

n. a person with whom one works, typically in a professional or office environment. Often implies a peer relationship rather than a hierarchical one.


SIMPLE

I am going to lunch with a coworker today.

CONTEXTUAL

After the meeting, a coworker helped me finish the presentation so we could submit it before the deadline.

COMPLEX

Maintaining professional boundaries with a coworker can be challenging when the collaborative nature of the project encourages a more personal friendship outside of office hours.

Origin

From co- + worker.

Usage

Commonly used in American English; 'colleague' is often preferred in British English or more formal contexts.

Pitfall

my workmate coworkermy coworkerLearners sometimes combine 'workmate' and 'coworker', but these are synonyms and should be used separately.

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