# grunt

/ˈɡɹənt/ (US) · /ɡɹˈʌnt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grunt
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a person who does hard, boring, or physical work that is not seen as important. It is a casual way to describe workers at the bottom of a company or group.

For teachers: a low-level worker who performs routine, menial, or physically demanding tasks. Often carries a derogatory or dismissive connotation regarding the worker's status or intellectual contribution.

## Examples

- The manager makes the grunts do all the heavy lifting.
- While the executives took credit for the successful launch, the grunts in the warehouse worked twelve-hour shifts to meet the deadline.
- In the hierarchy of a modern tech firm, the distinction between the visionary architects and the coding grunts is often reinforced by vast differences in equity and autonomy.

## Usage notes

- Informal and often derogatory; typically used to describe subordinates in a corporate or military hierarchy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.