menial Definition
- 1not requiring much skill and lacking prestige, often relating to work that is boring or unpleasant
- 2a person who does menial work is someone who does low-level, unskilled, and often boring work
Using menial: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "menial" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She was stuck doing menial tasks like filing and photocopying.
Example
The new employee started with menial jobs like cleaning the office.
Example
He worked his way up from a menial laborer to a supervisor.
menial Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for menial
Antonyms for menial
Phrases with menial
Example
She had to do a lot of menial work before she was given more important tasks.
Example
He started with a menial job cleaning the floors, but he worked his way up to a management position.
Example
He spent years doing menial labor in factories before he was able to get a better job.
Origins of menial
from Old French 'meinie', meaning 'household servants'
Summary: menial in Brief
The term 'menial' [ˈmiːniəl] refers to work that is considered low-level, unskilled, and often boring. It can also describe a person who does this type of work. Examples include filing, photocopying, and cleaning. The phrase 'menial work' is commonly used to describe this type of labor. 'Menial' is often used in formal contexts to describe unskilled or lowly work.