Standard Lemma guide

shitwork

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Work of low status or yielding little satisfaction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Tasks which could be done automatically by software but which the software forces the user to do manually.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Qualifier: especially GNOME

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

trivial, unrewarding, tedious, dirty, and disagreeable chores

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the hospital hired him to do scut work

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: scut work

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: job, task, chore

History

Etymology

From shit + work.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: paskaduuni — work of low status or satisfaction
  • Finnish: hanttihomma — work of low status or satisfaction
  • German: Scheißarbeit — work of low status or satisfaction
  • German: Scheissarbeit — work of low status or satisfaction