laborer
/ˈleɪ.bər.ər/
NOUN
1. A person who performs physical or manual work
Someone who works with their hands or performs physical labor, especially in construction, agriculture, industry, or other manual occupations.
1.1. A person engaged in general manual work
Refers to someone whose job primarily involves physical effort rather than office-based or professional work.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- employer
- boss
- supervisor
Examples
- The laborer worked long hours on the construction site.
- Every laborer deserves fair wages and safe working conditions.
- He began his career as a laborer before becoming a supervisor.
Related Words
- employee
- operative
- workforce
- wage earner
- toiler
- hireling
- workforce member
1.2. A worker performing unskilled or physically demanding tasks
Describes a person hired to perform basic physical tasks that generally require strength and endurance rather than specialized professional training.
Synonyms
- unskilled worker
- day laborer
- peon
- drudge
- navvy
- roustabout
- hired hand
- hireling
- laboring hand
Antonyms
- skilled professional
- specialist
- expert
Examples
- The company hired several day laborers to help clear the construction site.
- Unskilled workers often perform physically demanding tasks.
- The farm needed additional laborers during the harvest season.
Related Words
- casual worker
- temporary worker
- general laborer
- labor force
- laborer class
- construction hand
1.3. A worker employed in a particular manual occupation
Refers to someone who performs physical work in a specific industry or occupation, such as farming, mining, logging, construction, or dock work.
Synonyms
- farmhand
- agricultural laborer
- construction worker
- mineworker
- miner
- logger
- lumberjack
- dockworker
- stevedore
- longshoreman
- woodcutter
- porter
Examples
- The agricultural laborers worked from sunrise until sunset.
- The dockworkers unloaded cargo from the arriving ships.
- Several miners were employed to extract coal from the underground tunnels.
Related Words
- bricklayer
- hod carrier
- ditch digger
- tracklayer
- loader
- gravedigger
- section hand
- field worker