laborer
UK: ˈleɪ.bər.ər | US: ˈleɪ.bɚ.ɚ
n. a person who does physical work, especially in manual or unskilled jobs
n. a worker employed in labor-intensive industries
laborer = labor<work> + er<agent noun suffix>
- labor: From Latin labor (toil, exertion, work). Retained its core meaning of physical or mental effort.
- er: A suffix of Old English origin (-ere), used to form agent nouns indicating a person who performs an action (e.g., "worker," "teacher").
Etymology Origin:
The word laborer traces back to Latin labor (work), which entered Middle English via Old French labour. The suffix -er was added to denote someone who labors. The term originally emphasized manual toil but later broadened to include any unskilled or physical worker. Its evolution reflects societal shifts in labor divisions, from agrarian to industrial contexts.
The construction site hired dozens of laborers to complete the project on time.
Migrant laborers often face harsh working conditions in seasonal agriculture.
During the Industrial Revolution, many laborers moved from rural areas to cities.
The union advocated for better wages and safety protections for laborers.
Skilled artisans were distinguished from common laborers in medieval guilds.