Lifework
/ˈlaɪfˌwɜːrk/noun
A person's main work or occupation, especially one that gives lasting meaning to their life.
Did you know?Unlike words with occult or dark roots, lifework is a straightforward modern compound, but it still reflects a powerful cultural idea: that a person’s entire life can be shaped, defined, and even judged by work.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
līf
“life; existence; way of living”
Old English
OE
weorc
“work; deed; something done”
Middle English
ME
lifwerk
“life’s work; work done during one’s lifetime”
19th Century
English
lifework
“a person's principal work, especially the work to which they devote their life”
Modern English
English
lifework
“a person's main work or occupation, especially one that gives lasting meaning to their life”