Dictionary

paperwork en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈpeɪ.pɚ.wɚk/
• /ˈpeɪ.pɚˌwɝk/

Etymology

From paper + work.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) Routine work involving written documents.
   • do paperwork
2. (uncountable, usually) Written documents.
   • The source stated that the alleged victims wanted the paperwork released after the settlement, but with names and identifiers removed. 2016 September 1, Ellie Kaufman, “University of Kentucky sues student newspaper over sexual assault case”, in CNN, archived from the original on 08 Nov 2016:
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).
   • to have bad paperwork
5. (countable, usually) A work in paper.
   • However, except for few experimental paperworks by Jackson Pollock on paper made by Douglass Howell and occasional prints, usually woodcuts or wood engravings on Japanese paper, it is only in the late 1950s and early 1960s that editions of prints on beautiful handmade papers began appearing, published by Tatyana Grosman at the Universal Limited Art Editions on Long Island. 1978 March, Robert Flynn Johnson, “History of Experimentation in Paper”, in Paulette Long, Robert Levering, editors, Paper—Art & Technology: The History and Methods of Fine Papermaking with a Gallery of Contemporary Paper Art, San Francsico, Calif.: World Print Council, published 1979, 2nd printing (1981), →ISBN, “Experimental Approaches to Paper in Art: A Panel Discussion” section, page 88, column 1:
   • Greatly you haue boaſted of, and much threatned theſe two places, (for euery later paperwork of yours is but a Tautology of the former) […] 1599, “Prov[erbs] 14. 3. In the mouth a foole is the rod of pride.”, in Master [Hugh] Broughtons Letters, […] Answered in Their Kind, London: […] [Felix Kingston for] Iohn Wolfe, →OCLC, section 9, page 32:
   • His [Joseph Roberson’s] cast sculptural paperworks have been exhibited extensively in the United States, as well as in Thailand and Vietnam. 1998, Michael Durgin, editor, Hand Papermaking, volumes 13–14, Washington, D.C.: Hand Papermaking, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 40, column 1:
   • I opened the drawers, and there were all these paper maquettes for larger folded paperworks. 2020 November 26, Imogen Racz, quoting Mikey Cuddihy, British Art of the Long 1980s: Diverse Practices, Exhibitions and Infrastructures, London; New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, →ISBN:
   • Rob Moore is nationally and internationally known for his painting and for his paperworks. 1989 March 30, “Gallery 410”, in Connector, Lowell, Mass.: University of Lowell, page 8, column 3:
   • In listing dimensions for the paperworks, height precedes width, followed by depth; and dimensions for multi-unit pieces are for the entire work. 1986, Jane Glaubinger, “Note”, in Paper Now: Bent, Molded, and Manipulated, Cleveland, Oh.: The Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, →ISBN, copyright page:
   • Having practised as a sculptor and ceramicist for many years, I became more and more interested in paperworks and artist’s books. 1999, UK Fine Press Book Fair, Catalogue of Exhibitors: Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, 13–14 November 1999, [Lastingham, North Yorkshire]: Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association, →OCLC, page 18:
   • Please wait for me outside, I’ll need to carry all these paperworks to my house. 2020 May 5, Robert V Angel-Little, “The Resignation and Aftermath”, in Innocence Lost, Conneaut Lake, Pa.: Page Publishing, Inc., →ISBN:

Forms

Relateds

paperworks

Synonyms

administrivia · administrativia

Translations (52)

sv pappersjobb (work involving written documents) · id kertas kerja (work involving written documents) · fi paperityöt (work involving written documents) · pl papierologia (excessive paperwork) · it documentazione (written documents) · vi công việc giấy tờ (work involving written documents) · ru докуме́нты (written documents) · fr tâches administratives (work involving written documents) · sv pappersarbete (work involving written documents) · ja 事務処理 (work involving written documents) · cmn 文書 /文书 (written documents) · uk папе́ри (written documents) · oc paperalha (work involving written documents) · pl papiery (written documents) · de Papierkram (work involving written documents) · cmn 公文處理 /公文处理 (work involving written documents) · eo paperoj (work involving written documents) · de Schreibarbeit (work involving written documents) · uk канцеля́рська робо́та (work involving written documents) · ko 문서 업무 (work involving written documents) · pl papierologia (work involving written documents) · pt papelada (work involving written documents) · ar أَوْرَاق (written documents) · ca paperassa (work involving written documents) · ru бума́ги (written documents) · ca paperada (work involving written documents) · bg пи́смена ра́бота (work involving written documents) · pt papelada (excessive paperwork) · cmn 公文 (written documents) · nn papirarbeid (work involving written documents) · ru канцеля́рщина (excessive paperwork) · ms kertas kerja (work involving written documents) · pl papierkowa robota (excessive paperwork) · ko 서류 작업 (work involving written documents) · ru делопроизво́дство (work involving written documents) · cmn 文書處理 /文书处理 (work involving written documents) · id kertas kerja (written documents) · ja 文書業務 (work involving written documents) · cmn 文書工作 /文书工作 (work involving written documents) · es papeleo (work involving written documents) · pt papelada (written documents) · fa-ira کاغَذْبازی (excessive paperwork) · cmn 文件 (written documents) · de Papierkram (excessive paperwork) · pl papierkowa robota (work involving written documents) · nb papirarbeid (work involving written documents) · it lavoro di documentazione (work involving written documents) · uk докуме́нти (written documents) · it fascicolo (written documents) · ms kertas kerja (written documents) · fi paperisota (work involving written documents) · ru канцеля́рская рабо́та (work involving written documents)