Phrase guide

work ethic

noun · 2 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

The value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The tendency to work hard at one's job or duties.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: industry, diligence

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 勤勉精神 (qínmiǎn jīngshén) — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Dutch: werkethos — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Finnish: työmoraali — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Georgian: შრომითი ეთიკა (šromiti etiḳa) — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Georgian: შრომის ეთიკა (šromis etiḳa) — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • German: Arbeitsmoral — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • German: Arbeitsmentalität — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Indonesian: etika kerja — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Indonesian: etos kerja — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Irish: eitic oibre — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Japanese: 労働観 (rōdōkan) — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Malay: etika kerja — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Māori: waiaro mahi — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Russian: трудолюбие (trudoljubije) — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Spanish: ética laboral — value that one ought to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Afrikaans: werksetiek — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Bulgarian: трудолюбие (trudoljubie) — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Bulgarian: прилежание (priležanie) — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Chinese Mandarin: 勤勉性 — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Danish: arbejdsmoral — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Finnish: ahkeruus — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • German: Arbeitsmoral — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Irish: eitic oibre — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Latin: industria — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Russian: трудолюбие (trudoljubije) — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties
  • Spanish: ética laboral — tendency to work hard at one's job or duties