workload

American  

[wurk-lohd] / ˈwɜrkˌloʊd /

Or work load

noun

1. the amount of work that a machine, employee, or group of employees can be or is expected to perform.

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workload British  

/ ˈwɜːkˌləʊd /

noun

1. the amount of work to be done, esp in a specified period by a person, machine, etc

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Etymology

Origin of workload

First recorded in 1940–45; work + load

Example Sentences

While A.I.’s selling point is its ability to quickly take care of otherwise-time-consuming tasks, the Harvard Business Review recently found that this feature only ends up intensifying employee workload, not reducing it.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2026

“This demand strength comes from a combination of persistent workload shift to the cloud and the growing consumer and enterprise adoption of AI,” analyst Erik W. Woodring wrote.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Sources close to the Professional Footballers' Association told BBC Sport at the time that it had doubts if 28-man squads would help players with workload.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Leslie Ann Munoz also points to how AI, touted worldwide as a labor-saving technology, has actually increased the workload in some trades and professions, like lawyering.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Unsurprisingly, people with stone implements wanted metal tools as soon as they encountered them—the prospective reduction in workload was staggering.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann