# paperwork

/ˈpeɪpɝˌwɝk/ (US) · /pˈeɪpəwˌɜːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paperwork
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. official documents

noun · CEFR B1

the physical documents or forms that you have to fill out or keep.

For teachers: written documents, records, or forms required for administrative or legal purposes.

- I spent the whole morning organizing the paperwork for our new apartment.
- The legal team spent weeks reviewing the paperwork associated with the merger to ensure every clause was compliant with local regulations.

Usage: Uncountable; do not use 'paperworks' for multiple documents.

### 2. clerical work

noun · CEFR B1

the time and effort you spend dealing with forms and records.

For teachers: the routine clerical or administrative work involved in a task or profession.

- Being a doctor involves a lot of paperwork, not just seeing patients.
- The administrative burden of the new policy has increased the amount of paperwork for teachers, leaving them with less time for lesson planning.

Teaching tip: Often carries a negative connotation of being tedious or unnecessary.

### 3. prison records

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang

documents about a prisoner's crimes, often used to see if they are dangerous or an informant.

For teachers: court documents or investigation reports detailing an inmate's criminal history, often used by other prisoners to determine their status.

- The other inmates demanded to see his paperwork before they would trust him.
- In the high-security wing, having 'clean' paperwork was essential for any new arrival hoping to avoid conflict with the existing population.

Usage: Typically used within the context of the American carceral system.

Teaching tip: This is highly specialized slang; learners should be aware of its specific context in crime dramas or prison settings.

## Examples

- I spent the whole morning doing paperwork for my new job.
- The bank approved the loan quickly, but it took another week to process all the necessary paperwork.
- 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.

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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.