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.
Her favorite game was to shower caregivers with water, soaking them, their supplies and paperwork in the process. Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025 The couple made the agonizing decision to proceed with euthanasia, signing paperwork through tears. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025 The agency said payment must be made before filing an H-1B petition to USCIS, and that any paperwork filed without clear evidence for exemption would be denied. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 There's a ton of paperwork that goes into maintaining your small business — and failure to file something important can result in penalties. Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Paperwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paperwork. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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