make-work

See also: makework

English

Alternative forms

• makework

Etymology

From make +‎ work.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪkwəːk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

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

• make-work job

See also

• activity trap
• busy work