fieldwork

noun

field·​work ˈfēld-ˌwərk 

1

: a temporary fortification thrown up by an army in the field

2

: work done in the field (as by students) to gain practical experience and knowledge through firsthand observation

3

: the gathering of anthropological or sociological data through the interviewing and observation of subjects in the field

field-worker

ˈfēld-ˌwər-kər 

noun

Examples of fieldwork in a Sentence

an anthropologist who has done fieldwork in the South Pacific

Recent Examples on the Web

If future fieldwork confirms that these cones are present throughout the 40- to 45-kilometer (25- to 28-mile) diameter of the North Pole Dome, this lines up with the 62-mile (100-km) crater size suggested by the new study. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2025

The poll, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates with fieldwork by Ipsos, finds that the public by a broad 74%-22% would prefer to see Harris go in a new direction as president rather than continue the policies of the Biden administration. —Gary Langer, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2024

While some data collection fieldwork is required in person, everyday tasks like data analysis and mapping can be done remotely on a computer. —Julia Korn, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

But as the fieldwork continued, the researchers uncovered additional sandstone fragments, some bearing similar runic inscriptions, in other nearby graves. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fieldwork

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• earthwork