division of labor

[dih-vizh-uhn uhv ley-ber]

noun

Economics.

1. a production process in which a worker or group of workers is assigned a specialized task in order to increase efficiency.

division of labor

1. Dividing a job into many specialized parts, with a single worker or a few workers assigned to each part. Division of labor is important to mass production.

Word History and Origins

Origin of division of labor¹

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

“Here you see an early example of the racialized division of labor in the workplace by ‘skill’ and supervision, correlated with slave labor and free labor,” says Alex Lichtenstein, professor of history and American studies at Indiana University.

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"Some commit to rebuilding, while others focus on defense. That division of labor is essential. And by uncovering the switch that controls it, we can start thinking about how to restore balance when it breaks down in disease."

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Athens’s wealth enabled a deeper division of labor and the rise of professions like philosopher, historian, sculptor, architect, playwright and actor.

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In South Korea, the country with the lowest birth rate in the world, gender norms are so rigid and the division of labor so unequal that women have begun to reject marriage and childbirth altogether, part of a growing movement known as 4B.

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In my research, I’ve studied how couples navigate the transition to parenthood, and found that the division of labor often becomes a major source of stress for moms.

Read more on Slate