workhorse
noun
work·horse
ˈwərk-ˌhȯrs 
1
: a horse used chiefly for labor as distinguished from driving, riding, or racing
2
a(1)
: a person who performs most of the work of a group task
(2)
: a hardworking person
b
: something that is markedly useful, durable, or dependable
c
Examples of workhorse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Here's what to know about the military jets — workhorses for the Air Force.
—
Tom Liddy, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Brown knows wherever the forward ends up, that program is getting a workhorse.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Who could have seen that coming, especially when the utilitarian vehicle now universally known as the Defender (among the uninitiated) was employed almost exclusively as a workhorse, not as a trinket?
—Simon De Burton, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026
While best known for its workhorse graphics processing units (GPUs), Nvidia has transformed into a one-stop-shop for AI computing, offering additional types of non-GPU processors and the networking technology that enables all the chips to talk to each other.
—CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for workhorse
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Tom Liddy, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Brown knows wherever the forward ends up, that program is getting a workhorse.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Who could have seen that coming, especially when the utilitarian vehicle now universally known as the Defender (among the uninitiated) was employed almost exclusively as a workhorse, not as a trinket?
—Simon De Burton, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026
While best known for its workhorse graphics processing units (GPUs), Nvidia has transformed into a one-stop-shop for AI computing, offering additional types of non-GPU processors and the networking technology that enables all the chips to talk to each other.
—CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for workhorse
Cite this Entry
“Workhorse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workhorse. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
workhorse
noun
work·horse
ˈwərk-ˌhȯ(ə)rs
1
: a horse used for hard work (as on a farm)
2
a
: a person who does most of the work of a group task
b
: something that is useful, durable, or dependable
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