jobsworth

British  

/ ˈdʒɒbzˌwɜːθ /

noun

1. informal a person in a position of minor authority who invokes the letter of the law in order to avoid any action requiring initiative, cooperation, etc

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Etymology

Origin of jobsworth

C20: from it's more than my job's worth to …

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jobsworth

"He's obsessed with his job. He does do it well, but he's a little bit of a jobsworth as well."

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2024

It had moles and jobsworth superiors and a love of offing beloved characters.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 4, 2019

Could have been awkward outside Buckingham Palace otherwise – I hear the doorman’s a bit of a jobsworth.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 9, 2017

But Dargan's beef is not with the office jobsworth – a figure whose fortitude might be seen as brave as much as infuriating.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 26, 2012

Rather, it's a case of: "The mountain is being an overbearing, corporate jobsworth, insisting on change for change's sake."

From The Guardian ● Feb. 20, 2011