busywork

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A form of busy work — Work 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.

Similar
make-work
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Meanings

nounbusywork (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of busy work.

    It's a beautiful afternoon! I'm not going to waste it doing ridiculous busywork for school!

    1995 October 4, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic)

Synonyms & antonyms

nounactive work of little value

Similar
make-work
Broader
work
Also see
make-work

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

busywork. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busywork

MLA

“busywork.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busywork. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “busywork,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busywork.

Source: busywork on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.