busywork

[biz-ee-wurk]

noun

work assigned for the sake of looking or keeping busy.

Origin of busywork

First recorded in 1840–50; busy + work

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Word Origin and History for busy-work

n.

also busy work, 1910, from busy (adj.) + work (n.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper