ENGLISH
REFERENCE

workman

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈwɝkmən// UK //wˈɜːkmən// work·man

n. a person who has a job that involves physical labor or a specific trade. You use this word to describe someone who does a job that requires skill and effort.

n. a person who performs manual labor or a specific trade. Often used in the plural to refer to the working class or laborers in general.


SIMPLE

The workman fixed the broken pipe in the kitchen.

CONTEXTUAL

The construction site was filled with workmen laying bricks and mixing concrete for the new apartment complex.

COMPLEX

The factory relied on a team of skilled workmen who maintained the heavy machinery, ensuring that production remained uninterrupted during the busy holiday season.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English werkman, from Old English weorcmann (“workman”), from Proto-West Germanic werkamann, from Proto-Germanic werkamann- (“workman”), equivalent to work + -man. Compare Dutch werkman (“workman”), German Werkmann (“labourer, workman”), Icelandic verkamaður (“workman”).

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