labour power

noun

The capacity to do work (as opposed to labour, the physical act of working) which becomes a commodity under capitalism.

OriginGerman Arbeitskraft →
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Meanings

nounlabour power (uncountable)

alternative US labor power · alternative US labour-power · alternative US labor-power

  1. MarxismuncountableThe capacity to do work (as opposed to labour, the physical act of working) which becomes a commodity under capitalism.

Origin

  1. GermanArbeitskraft
  2. Englishlabour power

Calque of German Arbeitskraft.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 勞動力 /劳动力
  • 勞動力 /劳动力 (láodònglì)Translations
German Arbeitskraft
  • ArbeitskraftTranslations
Spanish fuerza de trabajo
  • fuerza de trabajoTranslations
Vietnamese sức lao động
  • sức lao độngTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

labour power. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/labour%20power

MLA

“labour power.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/labour%20power. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “labour power,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/labour%20power.

Source: labour power on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.