paperwork

noun

pa·​per·​work ˈpā-pər-ˌwərk 

: 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

Many losing coverage are enrollees who meet requirements but are dropped for paperwork issues or failure to prove exemptions, such as being disabled, the group said. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 1 May 2026

Auditors found the housing authority lacked paperwork in its files for a significant share of tenants. —R.a. Schuetz, Houston Chronicle, 1 May 2026

Martel turns that eerie impassivity into an asset by treating the drone’s perspective as a kind of God’s-eye view of a conflict in which one side is trying to win by way of the inexorable, self-reinforcing power of bureaucracy and paperwork. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 May 2026

Parole paperwork obtained in a Freedom of information act request shows Talley was paroled prior to a hearing. —Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paperwork

• bodywork
• handiwork
• ironwork
• latticework
• masterwork
• metalwork
• needlework
• openwork
• overwork
• subnetwork
• artwork
• beadwork

Kids Definition

paperwork

noun

pa·​per·​work -ˌwərk 

: routine office or record-keeping work