workhorse

noun

work·​horse ˈwərk-ˌhȯrs How to pronounce workhorse (audio)
Synonyms of workhorsenext
1
: a horse used chiefly for labor as distinguished from driving, riding, or racing
2
a(1)
: a person who performs most of the work of a group task
(2)
: a hardworking person
b
: something that is markedly useful, durable, or dependable
c
: horse sense 7

Examples of workhorse in a Sentence

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.
As such, this is meant to be a workhorse that's also enjoyable to drive. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026 Navy workhorse Commissioned in 1995, the USS Boxer belongs to the Wasp-class of amphibious assault ships. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026 The Falcon 9 rocket has been SpaceX’s workhorse, routinely launching batches of satellites for the company’s Starlink network, primarily from launch pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026 In his former life, Valdez was a front-line workhorse who pitched in five straight postseasons. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for workhorse

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of workhorse was in the 15th century

Rhymes for workhorse

See All Rhymes for workhorse

Browse Nearby Words

workhead
workhorse
workhouse
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Cite this Entry

“Workhorse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workhorse. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

workhorse

noun
work·​horse ˈwərk-ˌhȯ(ə)rs How to pronounce workhorse (audio)
1
: a horse used for hard work (as on a farm)
2
a
: a person who does most of the work of a group task
b
: something that is useful, durable, or dependable

More from Merriam-Webster on workhorse

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for workhorse

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