# labour

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈleɪ.bə/ · frequency rank #2,046

## Definitions
1. An effort expended on a particular task; toil, work.
2. That which requires hard work for its accomplishment; that which demands effort.
3. Workers in general; the working class, the workforce; sometimes specifically the labour movement, organised labour.
4. A political party or force aiming or claiming to represent the interests of labour.
5. The act or process of a mother giving birth.
6. The time period during which a mother gives birth.
7. The pitching or tossing of a vessel which results in the straining of timbers and rigging.
8. A traditional unit of area in Mexico and Texas, equivalent to 177.1 acres or 71.67 ha.
9. A group of moles.

## Etymology
From Middle English labor, labour, labur, from Old French labor (modern labeur) and its etymon, Latin labor.

## Easily confused with
- **layout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/labour-vs-layout)
- **Latour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/labour-vs-latour)
- **labours** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/labour-vs-labours)
- **labourer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/labour-vs-labourer)
- **laboured** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/labour-vs-laboured)
- **labor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/labor-vs-labour)
- **labors** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/labors-vs-labour)
- **laborer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/laborer-vs-labour)

## Common misspellings (8)
`albour`, `labbour`, `laboru`, `labourr`, `labuor`, `laobur`, `lbaour`, `llabour`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/labour