paperwork

noun

pa·​per·​work ˈpā-pər-ˌwərk How to pronounce paperwork (audio)
: routine clerical or recordkeeping work often incidental to a more important task

Examples of paperwork in a Sentence

She failed to file the paperwork on time. The lawyer had us fill in the paperwork for the mortgage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Zynga had been a subsidiary the whole time, without the paperwork. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Olya’s mother insisting on children, a Kafkaesque maze of exit paperwork, topped with some real existential dread of the mundane. — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 Traditionally, commercial banks enforce these rules through strict paperwork and annual caps. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The office will confirm identifications and ensure proper paperwork is filed before releasing the remains back to family. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paperwork

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paperwork was in 1899

Rhymes for paperwork

See All Rhymes for paperwork

Browse Nearby Words

paper-white narcissus
paperwork
paperworker
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paperwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paperwork. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

paperwork

noun
pa·​per·​work -ˌwərk How to pronounce paperwork (audio)
: routine office or record-keeping work

More from Merriam-Webster on paperwork

Nglish: Translation of paperwork for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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