Word.ws English Dictionary

workword

workword noun: the operative word, especially in a thought, phrase, or idea; keyword.

Noun

workword (plural workwords)

  1. (rare) The operative word, especially in a thought, phrase, or idea; keyword.
    • In peace, as in war, speed will be the workword. The less time required to rig and properly operate heavy-duty cranes and cargo lifts, the more tonnage you can handle.1945, The Log, volume 40, page 35

Synonyms of workword

Forms of workword

pluralworkwords

Origin of workword

From work + word, perhaps as a calque of Dutch werkwoord (“verb”). Compare also West Frisian wurkwurd (“verb”).

Questions about workword

What does workword mean?
Workword means the operative word, especially in a thought, phrase, or idea; keyword.
What part of speech is workword?
Workword is a noun.
What is the plural of workword?
The plural of workword is workwords.

Words near workword in the dictionary

  1. workweeks
  2. workwise
  3. workwoman
  4. workwomanlike
  5. workwomen
  6. workword
  7. workwords
  8. workworn
  9. worky
  10. workyard
  11. workyards

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: workword (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “workword.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/workword. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.