What does homeworker mean?
Homeworker denotes a person who carries out paid work from home instead of travelling to an office or other conventional workplace. It can describe an employee, a freelancer, or another self-employed person, and it identifies the location of the work rather than a particular occupation. The word is especially associated with British English but is also used in American English, where “remote worker” and “work-from-home worker” are frequent alternatives. In professional contexts, homeworker may refer to someone who works full time and attends meetings online, manages projects from home, or performs services for clients remotely. The term is distinct from homemaker, which usually emphasizes household duties such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for family members. Although the idea of paid home-based labor is longstanding, the modern workplace category became especially prominent as remote and digital work expanded. Homeworker is therefore useful as a concise label for employment organized around a domestic rather than commercial setting.
nounA person who performs paid work from home rather than travelling to a workplace. The term may refer to an employee or a self-employed person.
- A person who performs paid work from home rather than in a conventional workplace.
"After years of commuting, she became a homeworker and now conducts client meetings by video."
"The company hires homeworkers across several time zones."
"He works as a homeworker while caring for his young children."
The regular plural is formed by adding “-s” to the singular noun.
"Many homeworkers began working remotely during the early stages of the pandemic."
In one word, a homeworker captures a modern workplace that can be a kitchen table.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does homeworker come from?
Homeworker is an English compound formed from the long-established words “home” and “worker.” Its modern sense developed alongside the growth of paid employment performed outside conventional workplaces during the twentieth century. The formation closely parallels related terms such as “homeworking” and “homemaker,” which combine the same elements or the related root “home.”
Related word forms
How homeworker is actually used
The term is especially associated with British English, although it is also used in American English. It is generally neutral and professional; “remote worker” and “work-from-home worker” are often more common in current workplace language.
Easily confused with homeworker
A homeworker performs paid or professional work from home, whereas a homemaker usually manages household tasks and may not be paid.