paperwork

Meaning

1. (uncountable, usually) Routine work involving written documents.
2. (uncountable, usually) Written documents.
3. (also, excessive, figuratively, uncountable, usually) Excessive paperwork, busy work, red tape.
4. (US, slang, uncountable, usually) Court documents or pre-sentencing investigation reports detailing the prisoner's criminal history (usually in the context of discerning whether an inmate has been charged for sex-related offenses or is likely to be an informant).
5. (countable, usually) A work in paper.

Synonyms

clerical work

archives

busy-work

document

letter

note

records

red tape

writing

bureaucratic procedure

office work

desk jockey

record-keeping

accounting

staff-work

Translations

papeleo

Schreibarbeit

paperasserie

paperassa

papelada

Büroarbeit

Tâches administratives

kırtasiyecilik

document

écrit

العمل الكتابي

note

tâches administratives

Administratief werk

documentação

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpeɪ.pɚˌwɝk/

Etymology

From paper + work.