Telecommuter

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who performs job-related activities from a location outside the main office by utilizing telecommunication methods for connectivity
2. A worker who executes their professional responsibilities remotely, relying on technology to communicate rather than being physically present at a workplace
3. A person who carries out their work duties from a remote site by using electronic communication tools instead of commuting to a central office

Etymology: Commuting once had nothing to do with travel. It comes from Latin "commūtāre," meaning "to change altogether," built from "com-" and "mūtāre" ("to change"). English adopted the sense of exchanging one thing for another, and it was used for swapping or reducing a penalty, as when a sentence is commuted. The idea of a regular trip to work came later, from the notion of exchanging a fare for a periodic pass. The "tele-" part comes from Greek "têle," meaning "far off," which also appears in "telephone" and "television." The "-er" ending, inherited through Middle English and Old French from Latin "-ārius," turns "commute" into a noun for someone who makes that regular journey. "Telecommuter" joins the two: someone who makes the daily trip without leaving home, linking distance with the old commuting habit.

Synonyms: remote worker, home worker