Word
workman
Phoneticswork·man, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɝkmən/
UK/wˈɜːkmən/
Definitions
01manual labourer
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a man who does physical work for a living, often involving building or repairs.
n. a male individual employed to perform manual labour, typically for hourly or daily wages.
“The workman arrived early to fix the leaking pipe in the bathroom.”
“Several workmen were hired to clear the debris from the construction site before the new foundation could be poured.”
02skilled craftsman
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a man who is very skilled at making things by hand.
n. a skilled artisan or craftsman who demonstrates technical proficiency in a specific trade.
“He was a fine workman who took great pride in his wood carvings.”
“The restoration of the cathedral required a master workman capable of replicating the intricate stonework of the fourteenth century.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“A ladder has been placed from here to the choir roof to enable a workman to position a weathercock on the church, which may relate to the abbey's consecration in 1065.” Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- 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
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