Definition

A person who does low-level or unskilled work, often in a labor-intensive job, and may be bound to serve a landlord or employer.

Example

The company hired several peons to help with the manual labor on the construction site.

Conversation

Did you hear about the new job opening at the farm?

Yeah, I heard they need a few peons to help out.

I wonder what the pay would be like for a peon there.

I think it's not bad, but it's definitely hard work.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Peon originates from the Spanish word 'peón', meaning a laborer or foot soldier. The term is derived from the Latin 'pedonem', which means foot soldier, from 'pes' (meaning foot).

Memory Tip

Think of a 'foot soldier' ('pes') when remembering that a peon refers to a laborer or someone who works hard, often in a low-status job.

Visually Confused Words