coworker

[koh-wur-ker, koh-wur-]

noun

1. a fellow worker; worker; colleague.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coworker¹

First recorded in 1635–45; co- + worker

Example Sentences

Border Patrol agents arrested at least one person, who a coworker said was delivering strawberries, outside of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s event in Little Tokyo.

From Los Angeles Times

Franco came straight to the scene after he received calls that his coworker had been arrested.

From Los Angeles Times

But asking a coworker to pray, or attempting to persuade them to convert, could make it hard for them to say no.

From Salon

Having the legal right to say “no” means little when there’s every reason to worry your coworker will try to make your work life hell for rejecting them.

From Salon

Using false claims that Christians in government routinely face persecution, the task force relies on an expansive definition of “bias” that could easily encompass every time a fundamentalist gets their feelings hurt because an uninterested coworker said “no” to the offer of a religious pamphlet.

From Salon

Related Words

• acquaintance 
• bride 
• buddy 
• classmate 
• companion 
• comrade 
• playmate 
• roommate 
• schoolmate 
• spouse 

When To Use

What does coworker mean?

A coworker is your fellow employee, especially a person you work closely with.The words worker and coworker both refer to paid employees. Even if you work closely with your fellow students or volunteers, you would not call them your coworkers.Example: I spent most of my first day meeting my coworkers who work in the same department.