co-worker
Britishnoun
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."
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.
The former co-worker corrected her: “You were always working for the women.’
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
A co-worker had asked me to co-host a podcast with her; now that was on hold.
From Slate • Apr. 18, 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
And as adults, there is a direct link between the ability to communicate well with a romantic partner, and the ability to do the same with a co-worker or boss.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
The welfare worker laughed and looked over at a co-worker.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
