Labor — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Labor
Labor (noun)
- expenditure of physical or mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory
- the services performed by workers for wages as distinguished from those rendered by entrepreneurs for profits
- human activity that provides the goods or services in an economy
Labor (verb)
- to exert one's powers of body or mind especially with painful or strenuous effort, work
- to move with great effort
- to suffer from some disadvantage or distress
Labor (adjective)
- of or relating to labor
- of, relating to, or constituting a political party held to represent the interests of workers or made up largely of organized labor groups
Labor (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work
"one of the labors of Hercules in classical mythology was to clean out the stables of King Augeas"
-
the active use of energy in producing a result
"a superhuman amount of labor must have gone into designing and building the pyramids of Egypt"
-
very hard or unpleasant work
"a political dissident forced to do six months of hard labor in the salt mines as punishment"
-
the act or process of giving birth to children
"the mother's labor lasted for six hours"
-
something produced by physical or intellectual effort
"a small, personal film that was clearly a labor of love for the director and actors"
Labor (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
to devote serious and sustained effort
"the young lawyer labored most of the weekend over the difficult legal brief"
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Labor
The most common words with a similar meaning to Labor:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for Labor
Words with the opposite meaning of Labor:
Near Antonyms of Labor
Word Forms of Labor
Origin & Etymology of Labor
Middle English, from Anglo-French labur, from Latin labor; perhaps akin to Latin labare to totter, labi to slip sleep
First known use: 14th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Labor
- CEFR level: B2 English Vocabulary — Page 15
- Academic Word List: 570 Academic Word List — Page 9
- Topics: Law, Politics & Society, Business & Economics
Words & Phrases Containing Labor
Frequently Asked Questions about Labor
What does "Labor" mean?
"Labor" means expenditure of physical or mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: expenditure of physical or mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory. It has 6 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Labor"?
Other words for "Labor" include bear, beast, chore, headache, job, killer, effort and elbow grease. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Labor" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Labor"?
There are 147 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Labor". Common alternatives include bear, beast, chore, headache, job, killer, effort, elbow grease, exertion and expenditure.
What is the opposite of "Labor"?
Antonyms of "Labor" include fun and play. Near antonyms include breeze, child's play, cinch and duck soup.
How do you use "Labor" in a sentence?
Examples of "Labor" in a sentence: "one of the labors of Hercules in classical mythology was to clean out the stables of King Augeas"; "a superhuman amount of labor must have gone into designing and building the pyramids of Egypt"; "a political dissident forced to do six months of hard labor in the salt mines as punishment".
Is "Labor" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Labor" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.
Is "Labor" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
As a B2-level word, "Labor" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.
How do you pronounce "Labor"?
"Labor" is pronounced /ˈlā-bər/ and divided into syllables as la·bor.