workmate

Workmate is a common noun referring to a person with whom one works; a colleague or coworker. It is typically used to denote someone in the same workplace and tends to carry a casual, friendly tone compared with more formal terms such as colleague.

Origin and regional usage: The word is a compound of work and mate. It is especially common in British and Australian English, where it refers to peers within the same organization. In American English, coworker or colleague is more standard. The plural form is workmates.

Connotation and usage: Workmate often signals familiarity and an informal, egalitarian working relationship. It is generally unsuitable for formal writing or for referring to superiors and is more common in spoken language or informal writing.

Other uses: The name Workmate has been used as a brand for portable workbenches. For example, a folding workbench marketed under the name Workmate by Black & Decker and later by other manufacturers.

See also: coworker, colleague.