Etymology

make-work

Today it means: An activity or task assigned or undertaken for the sake of activity or busy-ness, rather than because of a particular need. Full definition →

First used 20th c.
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The story

From make + work.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 20th c. An activity or task assigned or undertaken for the sake of activity or busy-ness, rather than because of a particular need.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.