fieldwork

American

[feeld-wurk] / ˈfildˌwɜrk /

noun

Also field work work done in the field, as research, exploration, surveying, or interviewing.

archaeological fieldwork.
Fortification. a temporary fortification constructed in the field.

fieldwork British

/ ˈfiːldˌwɜːk /

noun

military a temporary structure used in defending or fortifying a place or position

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of fieldwork

First recorded in 1735–45; field + work

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 fieldwork also took the team to Joshua Tree National Park, which some research suggests will eventually become largely devoid of its namesake plant.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

The fieldwork was supported by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the Western Australian Museum.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

Her fieldwork points to something more politically sophisticated than the transactional model often assumed by strategists.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

An NEA is any type of assessment that is not a formal exam and includes oral assessments, fieldwork, portfolio work and practical assessments.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

The members met twice a month from November until June, when virtually all of them went off to spend the summer doing fieldwork.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023