Jobs — English Vocabulary
40 essential words about jobs in the live bank, with meanings and examples. Open any word for its full page.
guard /ɡɑːrd/ noun / verb A2
A person whose job is to protect a place or people and watch for danger; to protect or watch carefully.
Example: A guard stands at the bank door.
cleaner /ˈkliːnər/ noun A2
A person whose job is to clean rooms, offices, or houses; also a chemical product used for cleaning.
Example: The cleaner comes on Fridays.
plumber /ˈplʌmər/ noun A2
A person whose job is to install and fix water pipes, sinks, toilets, and heating systems.
Example: Call a plumber — the pipe is leaking.
electrician /ɪˌlekˈtrɪʃən/ noun A2
A person whose job is to install and repair electrical systems and equipment.
Example: The electrician fixed the lights.
mechanic /mɪˈkænɪk/ noun A2
A person whose job is to repair and maintain cars and other machines.
Example: The mechanic fixed my car.
hairdresser /ˈheərdresər/ noun A2
A person whose job is to cut, style, and color hair in a salon.
Example: The hairdresser cut her hair short.
babysitter /ˈbeɪbisɪtər/ noun A2
A person who takes care of children while their parents are out, usually for a few hours and for pay.
Example: The babysitter reads the kids a story.
lifeguard /ˈlaɪfɡɑːrd/ noun A2
A person at a beach or pool whose job is to watch swimmers and rescue anyone in danger.
Example: The lifeguard blew his whistle.
firefighter /ˈfaɪərfaɪtər/ noun A2
A person whose job is to put out fires and rescue people from burning buildings and accidents.
Example: Firefighters saved the family from the fire.
soldier /ˈsəʊldʒər/ noun A2
A person who serves in an army and is trained to fight in wars.
Example: Soldiers train every morning.
farmer /ˈfɑːrmər/ noun A2
A person who owns or works on a farm, growing food or keeping animals.
Example: The farmer grows corn and soybeans.
nurse /nɜːrs/ noun A2
A person trained to care for sick or injured people in a hospital or clinic.
Example: The nurse checked my temperature.
cook /kʊk/ noun / verb A2
A person whose job is preparing food; to prepare food by heating it.
Example: The cook makes amazing pasta.
waiter /ˈweɪtər/ noun A2
A person who serves food and drinks to customers in a restaurant (a woman is a waitress; 'server' covers everyone).
Example: The waiter brought our drinks.
builder /ˈbɪldər/ noun A2
A person or company whose job is making buildings and structures.
Example: The builders finished the house in six months.
artist /ˈɑːrtɪst/ noun A2
A person who creates art — paintings, drawings, music, or other creative work — especially as a job.
Example: The artist painted the ocean at dawn.
engineer /ˌendʒɪˈnɪər/ noun A2
A person trained to design and build machines, roads, bridges, software, or systems using science and math.
Example: Engineers designed the new bridge.
singer /ˈsɪŋər/ noun A2
A person who sings, especially as a job.
Example: The singer's voice filled the hall.
pilot /ˈpaɪlət/ noun A2
A person who flies an aircraft; also a person who guides ships into ports.
Example: The pilot landed the plane safely.
scientist /ˈsaɪəntɪst/ noun A2
A person who studies the natural world through observation and experiments, as a job.
Example: Scientists study climate change.
apron /ˈeɪprən/ noun A2
A piece of clothing worn over the front of the body to protect clothes while cooking, cleaning, or working, tied at the back.
Example: The cook wore an apron.
mask /mɑːsk/ noun A2
A covering worn over the face for protection (from dust, illness, chemicals), for celebration (costumes), or to hide identity; also to cover something (verb).
Example: Workers wear masks in the factory.
badge /bædʒ/ noun A2
A small object worn on clothing showing a person's name, job, rank, or membership; also an achievement symbol in games and apps.
Example: The officer showed his badge.
tools /tuːlz/ noun A2
Objects held in the hand and used to make, repair, or build things — hammers, screwdrivers, and drills; also the software and means for any job ('the tools of the trade').
Example: He keeps his tools in a red box.
vest /vest/ noun A2
A piece of clothing without sleeves worn over a shirt; safety workers wear bright ones (a safety vest); in British use it also means an undershirt.
Example: The worker's orange vest glows.
suit /suːt/ noun A2
A formal set of clothes — a jacket and matching trousers (or skirt) worn for business and ceremonies; also one of the four sets in playing cards, and a legal case (lawsuit).
Example: He wore a dark suit to the interview.
overalls /ˈəʊvərɔːlz/ noun A2
A piece of clothing consisting of trousers with a front part covering the chest, held up by straps over the shoulders, worn by workers and children; in Britain also a protective coat-like garment.
Example: The painter wore blue overalls.
scrubs /skrʌbz/ noun A2
The loose, comfortable clothes (a top and trousers) worn by doctors, nurses, and surgeons in hospitals, usually green or blue.
Example: The nurse changed into scrubs.
robe /rəʊb/ noun A2
A long loose piece of clothing worn at home after a bath or for ceremonies; judges and graduates wear formal robes, and bathrobes are its home form.
Example: The judge wore a black robe.
costume /ˈkɒstjuːm/ noun A2
The clothes worn by actors in plays and films to look like their characters; also special clothes worn for parties and Halloween.
Example: The actors wore costumes from 1850.
owner /ˈəʊnər/ noun A2
The person who owns something — a shop, a house, a company, or a pet.
Example: The shop owner greeted us.
seller /ˈselər/ noun A2
A person or company that sells something; in markets and online shops, the other side of the buyer.
Example: The seller shipped the phone quickly.
shopper /ˈʃɒpər/ noun A2
A person who is shopping in a store or online.
Example: Shoppers filled the mall on Saturday.
buyer /ˈbaɪər/ noun A2
A person who buys something, especially something expensive like a house or car; also the professional who chooses goods for a store to sell.
Example: The buyer offered a fair price.
worker /ˈwɜːrkər/ noun A2
A person who works, especially in a job done with the hands or in a factory or building trade; a member of a company or organization.
Example: Factory workers start at six.
clerk /klɜːrk/ noun A2
A person who works in an office doing records and paperwork, or in a store helping customers and taking payments (in the US).
Example: The clerk at the counter helped me.
tailor /ˈteɪlər/ noun A2
A person whose job is making and repairing clothes, especially men's suits, measuring and sewing by hand.
Example: The tailor measured him for a suit.
grocer /ˈɡrəʊsər/ noun A2
A person who sells food and small household goods, or the shop itself (a grocer's); bigger stores employ its supermarket descendants.
Example: The grocer knows every family on the street.
vendor /ˈvendər/ noun A2
A person who sells things, especially in a street, market, or at an event; also a company that sells products or services to businesses.
Example: A hot-dog vendor stood by the gate.
merchant /ˈmɜːrtʃənt/ noun A2
A person or company that buys and sells goods in large amounts, especially trading with other countries; in card payments, a business that accepts cards.
Example: Venice grew rich on merchants.