Worker
/ˈwɜːrkər/
Definitions
2 meaningsA person who performs labor or a specific job, especially for wages or salary.
/ˈwɜːrkər/
A person who does a job or task.
The factory workers assembled the cars.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone who spends their day doing a specific task to get paid. Like a teacher at school or a chef in a restaurant. These people are all workers!
👶 For kids: Someone who does a job to earn money, like a teacher or a builder.
More Examples
The company hired several new workers to meet the increased demand.
The healthcare workers worked tirelessly during the pandemic.
How It's Used
"The workers went on strike to demand higher wages."
"Construction workers were busy building the new bridge."
An individual, especially an insect (like an ant or bee), that performs a specialized task within a social group.
/ˈwɜːrkər/
An insect in a colony that is not a queen or a drone.
Worker bees tirelessly collect pollen and nectar.
💡 Simply: Imagine a team of ants where each one has a special job. Some ants gather food, some build the nest...they're all 'workers'!
👶 For kids: Insects, like ants and bees, that have jobs to do in their groups, like finding food or building their home.
More Examples
The worker ants diligently carried crumbs back to the nest.
Worker termites build the intricate tunnels of the colony.
How It's Used
"Worker ants are responsible for gathering food for the colony."
"Worker bees have specific roles, like foraging for nectar."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
hard worker
Someone who is diligent and puts in a lot of effort.
"He is a hard worker, always staying late to finish his tasks."
blue-collar worker
A person who performs manual labor, often in factories or construction.
"The blue-collar workers are essential for maintaining infrastructure."
white-collar worker
An office worker or someone employed in a professional or clerical job.
"White-collar workers are usually employed in offices."
From Middle English *werker*, from Old English *wyrhta* ('maker, creator'), from *wyrcan* ('to work').
The word 'worker' has been used to describe individuals involved in labor since the Middle Ages, evolving from the Old English word 'wyrhta'.
Memory tip
Think of someone *working* to earn money.