workman

Pronunciation: /ˈwɝkmən/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an employee who performs manual or industrial labor

Etymology

From Middle English werkman, from Old English weorcmann (“workman”), from Proto-West Germanic *werkamann, from Proto-Germanic *werkamann- (“workman”), equivalent to work + -man. Compare Dutch werkman (“workman”), German Werkmann (“labourer, workman”), Icelandic verkamaður (“workman”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

workingman, working man, working person

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
employee
Narrower (hyponyms)
rat-catcher, luddite, excavator, utility man, scratcher, lather

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