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Synonyms

co-worker

British  

noun

  1. a fellow worker; associate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Explanation

A co-worker is someone you work with. Your ice cream shop co-worker might scoop the ice cream while you're on milkshake duty. When you work with someone, that person is your co-worker. The word implies that you work side-by-side — you wouldn't usually refer to your boss as your co-worker. If you work in an office, your co-workers probably have cubicles and computers that are similar to yours, and if you work on a farm your co-workers are right there beside you weeding the beets or watering the tomatoes. The prefix co in co-worker means "together" or "mutually."

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Vocabulary lists containing co-worker

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Now he was bringing wild-sounding allegations against his former co-worker Lorna Hajdini, seen as a rising star at JPMorgan.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

A co-worker had asked me to co-host a podcast with her; now that was on hold.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

He said he is often left waiting at the end of a shift for his wife and co-worker Anne, 85, who can always be found on the corner of the crossing talking to passers-by.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Fox News host — and military veteran — Joey Jones addressed the president and his former co-worker Hegseth directly over the weekend.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

Her boss had turned down her request, but she had managed to quietly trade shifts with a co-worker.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

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