laborer

noun

la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər How to pronounce laborer (audio)
Synonyms of laborernext
: one that labors
specifically : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages

Synonyms of laborer

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Examples of laborer in a Sentence

He has been working as a laborer on a construction project. they could only find work as laborers unloading cargo ships
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His father, Charles, had expanded the New Jersey real estate development business his grandfather, a Polish Holocaust survivor, had begun after starting out as a construction laborer. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The White miners drove hundreds of other Chinese laborers out of the town. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Many worked as laborers in building projects in an era of Western colonial rule across much of Asia. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Built in 1610 by Spanish and Indigenous laborers, the church was destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt that drove Spanish colonizers out of the region for 12 years. — Dan Fellner, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for laborer

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of laborer was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing laborer

Browse Nearby Words

labored
laborer
labor exchange
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Cite this Entry

“Laborer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laborer. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

laborer

noun
la·​bor·​er ˈlā-bər-ər How to pronounce laborer (audio)
: one that works
especially : a person who does unskilled physical work for wages
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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