manual labor

noun

Work done by hand or using basic tools rather than by machines; usually physically demanding but (sometimes derogatory) unskilled labor.

Similar
manual workmanual labour
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Meanings

nounmanual labor (countable and uncountable, plural manual labors)

plural manual labors · alternative manual labour

  1. UScountableuncountableWork done by hand or using basic tools rather than by machines; usually physically demanding but (sometimes derogatory) unskilled labor.

    Synonyms: manual work

Synonyms & antonyms

nounWork done by hand or using basic tools rather than by machines; usually physically demanding but (sometimes derogatory) unskilled labor.

Similar
manual work

More synonyms by meaning

nounlabor done with the hands

Similar
manual labour
Broader
laborlabourtoil
Also see
manual work

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Afrikaans handearbeid
  • handearbeidphysical work
Chinese Mandarin 手工勞動 /手工劳动, 體力勞動 /体力劳动
  • 手工勞動 /手工劳动 (shǒugōng láodòng)physical work
  • 體力勞動 /体力劳动 (tǐlì láodòng)physical work
Esperanto manlaboro
  • manlaborophysical work
Finnish ruumiillinen työ
  • ruumiillinen työphysical work
French travail manuel
  • travail manuelphysical work
German Handarbeit
  • Handarbeitphysical work
Greek χειρωνακτική εργασία
  • χειρωνακτική εργασία (cheironaktikí ergasía)physical work
Indonesian kerja tangan
  • kerja tanganphysical work
Irish obair láimhe
  • obair láimhephysical work
Japanese 肉体労働
  • 肉体労働 (nikutai rōdō)physical work
Polish praca fizyczna
  • praca fizycznaphysical work
Romanian muncă manuală, lucrare manuală
  • muncă manualăphysical work
  • lucrare manualăphysical work
  • muncă fizicăphysical work
Russian ручно́й труд, физи́ческий труд
  • ручно́й труд (ručnój trud)physical work
  • физи́ческий труд (fizíčeskij trud)physical work
Swedish kroppsarbete
  • kroppsarbetephysical work
Tamil உடலுழைப்பு
  • உடலுழைப்பு (uṭaluḻaippu)physical work
Vietnamese lao động chân tay, lao động tay chân
  • lao động chân tayphysical work
  • lao động tay chânphysical work
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: manual labor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.