What does laborer mean?
A laborer is a person who performs work, most often physical or manual labor. In contemporary usage, the word is particularly common for farm workers, construction workers, and people hired by the day, though it can mean any worker who receives wages. The term can sound blunt, dated, or less prestigious than worker or employee, and it may be avoided when a more specific job title is available. Laborer is the usual spelling in the United States, while labourer is standard in British English and much of the Commonwealth. The word is especially useful when the employment relationship matters: a laborer works for an employer, whereas an employer directs or provides the work. It is also valuable in historical and economic discussion, where it can identify people whose lives depended on wage labor rather than independent business or property. Although straightforward in meaning, laborer connects a precise occupational description with a long history of work, employment, and social class.
nounA person who performs physical work, especially manual, agricultural, or other wage labor. More broadly, the term can mean any person who works for wages.
- A person employed to perform manual or physical work, especially agricultural, construction, or seasonal work.
- More broadly, a person who works for wages, especially when the emphasis falls on employment rather than occupation or status.
"The farm hired several laborers to harvest the wheat before the storm arrived."
"Every morning, the laborers arrived at the construction site carrying tools and timber."
"The diary describes the family's difficult years as agricultural laborers in the nineteenth century."
In British and much Commonwealth English, the usual plural is labourers.
"The laborers asked their supervisor when the next shift would begin."
Laborer literally names the person who does the work: it descends from Latin labor, meaning “work” or “toil.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does laborer come from?
Laborer entered Middle English from Old French laboureur, meaning “a worker” or “one who works.” Its ultimate source is Latin laborator, an agent noun derived from laborare, “to work,” which in turn comes from labor, “work” or “toil.” The word was initially associated with manual labor and continued to be especially common in descriptions of agricultural and other wage workers.
How laborer is actually used
The word can sound blunt, dated, or less prestigious than worker or employee, especially in general professional contexts. It is nevertheless common in agriculture, construction, historical writing, and discussions of wages and working conditions.
Easily confused with laborer
Labor refers to work or the activity of working, whereas a laborer is the person who performs the work.