ENGLISH
REFERENCE

paperwork

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈpeɪpɝˌwɝk// UK //pˈeɪpəwˌɜːk// pa·per·work Slang

n. the routine work of writing letters, filling out forms, or keeping records. It is often the part of a job that people find boring or slow.

n. routine clerical or administrative tasks, such as filling out forms, filing documents, or maintaining records. Often used to refer to the bureaucratic requirements of a process.


SIMPLE

I spent the whole morning doing paperwork for my new job.

CONTEXTUAL

The bank approved the loan quickly, but it took another week to process all the necessary paperwork.

COMPLEX

While the digital revolution promised a paperless office, many legal professionals find themselves buried under more physical paperwork than ever before due to strict compliance regulations.

Origin

From paper + work.

Usage

The noun is uncountable; it refers to the collective task rather than individual sheets of paper.

Pitfall

I have many paperworks to doI have a lot of paperwork to doPaperwork is uncountable and cannot be used in the plural form.

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