make-work

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See also: makework

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From make +‎ work.

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈmeɪkwəːk/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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make-work (uncountable)

  1. (chiefly US) An activity or task assigned or undertaken for the sake of activity or busy-ness, rather than because of a particular need. [from 20th c.]
    • 2011 November 10, Lord Gilbert, House of Lords Hansard:
      I once described this rather vulgarly as a Euro-wanking make-work project and I do not resile from that.
    • 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 802:
      They are more sympathetic to immigration, free markets, and free trade, and less sympathetic to protectionism, make-work policies, and government intervention in business.

Derived terms

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See also

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