workaholic

American  

[wurk-uh-haw-lik, -hol-ik] / ˌwɜrk əˈhɔ lɪk, -ˈhɒl ɪk /

noun

• workaholics
  plural

1. a person who works compulsively at the expense of other pursuits.

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workaholic British  

/ ˌwɜːkəˈhɒlɪk /

noun

1. 1. a person obsessively addicted to work

   2. ( as modifier )

      workaholic behaviour

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• workaholism
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• workaholics
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of workaholic

First recorded in 1965–70; work + -aholic

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Explanation

A workaholic is someone who can't stop working. Workaholics are obsessed with working to an unhealthy degree. Just as an alcoholic has an unhealthy addiction to alcohol, workaholics have an unhealthy addiction to work. Wanting to work all the time might sound like a harmless desire, but for some people it's a real problem. A workaholic goes to work early and stays late. A workaholic might have trouble relaxing. Many workaholics neglect their families and friends because all they care about is work. Workaholics take a good thing — working — too far.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

workaholic workaholics

For “King of the Hill,” he built an entire town out of workaholic marks and conspiratorial morons, and never once sneered at them across 13 seasons.

From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026

Japan will ease overtime regulation starting Tuesday in a move meant to help spur economic growth but criticised as a relapse into the country's ingrained workaholic culture.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

It was about respecting the workaholic she saw in the mirror.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026

Having taken them to the Champions League for the first time since 1982-83, when it was the European Cup - and then to last season's quarter-finals - workaholic Emery has transformed Villa.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2026

Mom’s boss is an unstoppable robot workaholic lawyer, so this happens a lot.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

I feel like we all subconsciously know that it’s not good for us to be relentless workaholics, to always be striving, always moving our own goal posts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

Of the workaholics who shared their stories with the BBC, many say the meetings often have more women than men in attendance.

From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2024

To the average European, the U.S. is a country of workaholics who have an unhealthy work-life balance.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2022

They were obviously both workaholics — another more modern term.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2022

Even workaholics know they should take it easy this weekend, and fans of “Workaholics” will recognize the headliner at Carolines on Broadway through Saturday: Erik Griffin, who played Montez Walker on that Comedy Central sitcom.

From New York Times ● Sep. 2, 2021

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