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

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.

From Salon

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.

From Slate

And so he devised a division of labor system, which he called parataxonomy.

From Salon

“And there was no division of labor.”

From Los Angeles Times

How did you coordinate the division of labor with the special effects team?

From Los Angeles Times