Jobs

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /d͡ʒɑbz/

Definitions

1. A paid position where a person works for an employer ; specific tasks or pieces of work assigned or required to be done
2. Employment in which an individual performs work for compensation ; particular obligations or responsibilities to complete
3. A role offering compensation for labor or services ; a set of activities or projects to be carried out

Etymology: The concept of "jobs" as paid positions of work has roots stretching back to Middle English, where the singular form "jobbe" initially referred to a piece of work or a task. This term probably originated in the late 16th century and was used to describe small or specific tasks, often of a menial or casual nature. Over time, the meaning expanded from individual tasks to encompass regular employment or occupations. The exact origin of the word is uncertain, but it may derive from earlier dialectal English words meaning "lump" or "mass," possibly suggesting a discrete piece of work to be done. Another theory connects it to the obsolete Middle English "gobbe," meaning a piece or lump of something, reinforcing this sense of a distinct chunk of labor or duty. By the 17th and 18th centuries, the plural form had come into widespread use to describe various forms of employment or positions people held. The word evolved alongside the changing nature of work itself—from simple tasks to more structured roles within growing economies. This shift mirrors the broader transformation of work from informal, piece-based labor to formalized jobs within industries. Pronounced with a voiced initial consonant and a final voiced "z" sound, the plural form embodies the multiplicity of roles individuals might take on. The linguistic journey from a modest "piece of work" to a fundamental term in economics and daily life reflects how language adapts to social and economic developments over centuries.

Synonyms: positions, employment, work, tasks, roles

Antonyms: unemployment, idleness, leisure, vacation, rest