Etymologically
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paperwork

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 03:39. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈpeɪ.pɚˌwɝk/, /ˈpeɪ.pɚ.wɚk/[1]

Etymology

It is a compound, from English paper + work.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Work made of paper, structural or decorative, and also a literary work: 1577, in William Harrison's Description of Britain.[2] Etymonline dates "things made of paper" to the 1580s.[3]

Semantic evolution

In the 19th century it came to mean a student's written work (1845, now rare)[2] and then routine clerical work with forms, letters and invoices, from 1861 in the OED;[2] Etymonline dates work done on paper from 1889.[3]

Timeline

  • 1577 – work made of paper.[2]
  • 1845 – a student's written work.[2]
  • 1861 – routine clerical work.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Routine office work that involves writing, filing and forms.

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com