Words / B1

LAYB-uh/ˈleɪbə/

Labour is work, especially physical: hard labour; skilled labour; a labour shortage. Labor is the US spelling. Labour (capital L) is the UK political party. A worker is a person; labour is often the work or the workforce as a whole. Do not confuse it with neighbour or with lab (laboratory). Childbirth labour is another sense.

Meaning

Work, especially physical work; also workers as a group (Labour is the UK political party).

Examples

• “The job involves hard physical labour in all weathers.”
• “The harvest still depends on seasonal labour.”
• “Labour promised a review of social care in the manifesto, which is the party name.”

Good to know

hard / skilled labour (UK spelling). Workforce sense: a labour shortage. Party: Labour. US: labor. Mix-up: lab.

Near in meaning

work

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