What's the Difference Between 'Labor' and 'Labour'?

In this blog post we look at when to use labor and when to use labour.

'Labor' or 'Labour'?

Labor and labour are two forms of the same word that are used in different regions of the world.

In American English, the word "labor" is used to refer to the physical or mental effort that is put into a task or job, while in British English, the word "labour" is used for the same meaning.

For example, in American English, one would say "I put in a lot of labor to finish this project" to refer to the effort that was put into completing the project.

In British English, one would say "I put in a lot of labour to finish this project" to convey the same meaning.

In addition to referring to physical or mental effort, labor and labour are also used to refer to the people who engage in the work or occupation.

In American English, the word "labor" is used to refer to the workers or employees who perform a certain job or task, while in British English, the word "labour" is used for the same purpose.

For example, in American English, one would say "the labor union represents the interests of the workers" while in British English, one would say "the labour union represents the interests of the workers"

In addition, labor and labour are also used to refer to the act of giving birth. In American English, the word "labor" is used to refer to the process of giving birth, while in British English, the word "labour" is used for the same meaning.

For example, in American English, one would say "she went into labor at the hospital" while in British English, one would say "she went into labour at the hospital"

In conclusion, labor and labour are two forms of the same word, with the main difference being their usage in American English and British English.

While labor and labour have different spellings, they ultimately refer to the same concept of work or effort, whether it is physical, mental, or the act of giving birth. Thus, the choice between labor and labour is ultimately a matter of preference and regional conventions.

Examples of Labor in a Sentence

  1. "I put in a lot of labor to finish this project"

  2. "The labor union represents the interests of the workers"

  3. "She went into labor at the hospital"

  4. "The company hired additional labor for the construction project"

  5. "The labor costs for the project were higher than expected"

  6. "The labor laws protect the rights of workers"

Examples of Labour in a Sentence

  1. "The labour market is currently strong"

  2. "The labour movement fought for better working conditions"

  3. "The labour strike caused production to halt"

  4. "The labour force is made up of both skilled and unskilled workers"

  5. "The labour agreement was reached after months of negotiation"

  6. "The labour productivity has increased over the past year"


Labor or Labour
Labor or Labour