Word
labourer
Phoneticslabour·er
UK/lˈeɪbɜːɹɐ/
US spelling · laborer, laborers
Definition
n. a person who does physical work, especially on a farm or a construction site. You use this word for someone who does hard manual work rather than an office job.
n. a person who performs manual or physical work, typically on a farm or in construction. Often used to distinguish those who perform unskilled or semi-skilled tasks from professionals or managers.
Examples
“The construction site is full of skilled labourers.”
“Many local labourers were hired to help finish the new bridge before the winter storm arrived.”
“While the project required the oversight of engineers, the actual physical work was carried out by a team of experienced labourers who had spent decades on similar sites.”
Examples
simple
“The construction site is full of skilled labourers.”
contextual
“Many local labourers were hired to help finish the new bridge before the winter storm arrived.”
complex
“While the project required the oversight of engineers, the actual physical work was carried out by a team of experienced labourers who had spent decades on similar sites.”
Real-World Examples
“His mother raised the children and sometimes worked in a supermarket; his father was a labourer.” “At least 50 people, mostly children, have died after a boat carrying farm labourers capsized in Nigeria.” Etymology
From labour + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/labourer