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
Max assists employees with tasks like financing, paperwork, inventory management, and fraud detection.
—
Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
As first uncovered by the Associated Press, an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo stated that agents may forcibly enter homes in certain situations using only administrative warrants — paperwork issued by ICE itself, not warrants signed by a judge.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead of requiring people to start in shelter before accessing permanent housing, Street to Home connects chronically unsheltered New Yorkers directly to permanent housing with supports and tackles the paperwork after.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Powers, who was in her fifties, with a silky, confident voice, took Silvia’s calls and prepared her paperwork.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paperwork
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.
Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
As first uncovered by the Associated Press, an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo stated that agents may forcibly enter homes in certain situations using only administrative warrants — paperwork issued by ICE itself, not warrants signed by a judge.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead of requiring people to start in shelter before accessing permanent housing, Street to Home connects chronically unsheltered New Yorkers directly to permanent housing with supports and tackles the paperwork after.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Powers, who was in her fifties, with a silky, confident voice, took Silvia’s calls and prepared her paperwork.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paperwork
Cite this Entry
“Paperwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paperwork. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paperwork
noun
pa·per·work
-ˌwərk
: routine office or record-keeping work
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
