What does laborious mean?
Laborious is an adjective describing work, processes, or efforts that require considerable time, energy, patience, or attention. The word is commonly applied to demanding tasks such as research, construction, negotiation, or learning, especially when the effort involved is prolonged and painstaking. It can also convey that something is slow because it involves repeated or difficult work. The expression has a formal tone and is often somewhat more emphatic than simply saying that a task is difficult. In positive contexts, it suggests persistence and thoroughness, while in negative contexts it may imply that the process is tiresome or unwieldy. Its usefulness lies in capturing the scale and demanding nature of sustained effort without requiring the reader to infer those qualities from context.
adjectiveRequiring much effort, hard work, or time; involving considerable physical or mental exertion. It can also describe activity that is slow because of the effort involved.
- Involving or requiring much effort, hard work, or time.
- Slow and difficult because of the amount of effort involved.
"The restoration of the building was a laborious process that took several years."
"Learning a new alphabet can be a laborious but rewarding process."
"After a laborious journey through the mountains, the travelers finally reached the coast."
A laborious task is not merely busy: it demands sustained effort, patience, and attention.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does laborious come from?
The word derives from the Latin adjective laboriosus, meaning “full of labor” or “requiring toil,” formed from labor, meaning “work” or “effort.” English borrowed the form through French laborieux and related forms influenced the spelling of the modern English word. Its cognates include collaborate, elaborate, and laboratory, all of which ultimately relate to the Latin verb laborare, “to work.”
Related word forms
How laborious is actually used
Generally formal. It is often used for processes, tasks, negotiations, or efforts that are demanding, lengthy, and painstaking; it can sometimes suggest that the activity is tedious as well as difficult.
Easily confused with laborious
No distinction is needed; this is the headword.
As a noun, 'labour' means work or workers in general; as a verb, it means to work hard or exert effort. 'Laborious' is the adjective describing something that requires difficult or extensive effort.