What does "fieldwork" mean?
Work done out in the fields as opposed to that done elsewhere on the farm (e.g., barn, house, outbuildings, office).
Fieldwork
/ˈfiːldwɜːk/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Work done out in the fields as opposed to that done elsewhere on the farm (e.g., barn, house, outbuildings, office).
- Grammar: fieldwork is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abatis, anthropology, archaeological discoveries, archeology.
- Useful contrasts: administrative tasks, most molecular biology-lab, archival research.
- Usage evidence: She fell in love with fieldwork studying lizards in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona.
How to use "fieldwork"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fieldwork" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fieldwork" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fieldwork" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fieldwork" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fieldwork" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abatis" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fieldwork", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Work done out in the fields as opposed to that done elsewhere on the farm (e.g., barn, house, outbuildings, office). uncountable
"The days now were occupied in field work and more field work; he cleared new bits of ground, getting out roots and stones; plowing, manuring, harrowing, working with pick and spade, breaking lumps of soil and crumbling them with hand and heel; a tiller of the ground always, laying out fields like velvet carpets. He waited a couple of days longer―there was a look of rain about―and then he sowed his grain."
- 2 an investigation carried out in the field rather than in a laboratory or headquarters wordnet
- 3 Work done out in the real world rather than in controlled conditions. uncountable
"That well Bob set up last weekend was some good fieldwork."
- 4 a temporary fortification built by troops in the field wordnet
- 5 The collection of raw data in the field, field research, field study, field studies. countable, uncountable
"I thought the fieldwork in the course I was taking was going to be hard, but it was just interviewing people."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A temporary fortification built by troops in the field; a defensive earthwork in the field. countable, rare
"Billy's out building some fieldwork so that our enemies don't walk right over us."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
administrative tasksmost molecular biology-labarchival researchbiology lab
Example
"She fell in love with fieldwork studying lizards in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fieldwork"?
Common synonyms include: abatis, anthropology, archaeological discoveries, archeology, bank, barbican.
How do you use "fieldwork" in a sentence?
She fell in love with fieldwork studying lizards in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona.
How do you pronounce "fieldwork"?
Pronounced /ˈfiːldwɜːk/.
Etymology
From Middle English *felde-werk (found in plural felde werkes), equivalent to field + work.