Meanings
nounlifework (plural lifeworks)
plural lifeworks · alternative life's work
- The main occupation or vocation of a person's life.
Origin
From life + work. Compare Saterland Frisian Lieuwendswierk, West Frisian libbenswurk, Dutch levenswerk, German Low German Levenswark, German Lebenswerk, Danish livsværk, Swedish livsverk.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 一生的工作, 畢生的事業 /毕生的事业
- 一生的工作 (yīshēng de gōngzuò)main occupation of one's life
- 畢生的事業 /毕生的事业 (bìshēng de shìyè)main occupation of one's life
Dutch levenswerk
- levenswerkmain occupation of one's life
Finnish elämäntyö
- elämäntyömain occupation of one's life
German Lebenswerk
- Lebenswerkmain occupation of one's life
Japanese ライフワーク
- ライフワーク (raifuwāku)main occupation of one's life
Polish dorobek życia, praca życia
- dorobek życiamain occupation of one's life
- praca życiamain occupation of one's life
- cel życiamain occupation of one's life
Russian де́ло всей жи́зни
- де́ло всей жи́зни (délo vsej žízni)main occupation of one's life
Swedish livsverk
- livsverkmain occupation of one's life
Cite this entry
APA
lifework. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lifework
MLA
“lifework.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lifework. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lifework,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lifework.
Source: lifework on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.