Meanings
nounbusy work (uncountable)
alternative busywork · alternative busy-work
- USidiomaticuncountableWork or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
Until we have a system clearly established, entering more data is just busy work.
Translations
Dutch bezigheidstherapie
- bezigheidstherapieactivity performed for occupying time
Finnish puuhastelu, touhuilu
- puuhasteluactivity performed for occupying time
- touhuiluactivity performed for occupying time
French bassotage
- bassotageactivity performed for occupying time
Polish bezproduktywne zajęcie
- bezproduktywne zajęcieactivity performed for occupying time
Spanish trabajo improductivo, tarea sin sentido
- trabajo improductivoactivity performed for occupying time
- tarea sin sentidoactivity performed for occupying time
- faena despropositadaactivity performed for occupying time
Swedish tidsslöseri
- tidsslöseriactivity performed for occupying time
Cite this entry
APA
busy work. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busy%20work
MLA
“busy work.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busy%20work. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “busy work,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busy%20work.
Source: busy work on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.