workbook

American  

[wurk-book] / ˈwɜrkˌbʊk /

noun

1. a manual of operating instructions.

2. a book designed to guide the work of a student by inclusion of questions, exercises, etc.

3. a book in which a record is kept of work completed or planned.

4. Digital Technology. a file that contains worksheets, or multiple sections, usually in spreadsheet applications.

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workbook British  

/ ˈwɜːkˌbʊk /

noun

1. an exercise book or textbook used for study, esp a textbook with spaces for answers

2. a book of instructions for some process

3. a book in which is recorded all work done or planned

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Etymology

Origin of workbook

First recorded in 1815–20; work + book

Explanation

A school text that includes space for you to write or do practice problems is a workbook. If you find your vocabulary workbook dull and tedious, ask your teacher if you can use Vocabulary.com instead! Simply put, a workbook is a book that you can do work in. Usually, workbooks are paperbacks filled with problems or exercises that you're meant to do right in the workbook, rather than on a separate sheet of paper. Elementary school students might have workbooks for practicing printing letters or doing simple math, while high school students may use a workbook to prepare for taking a test like the SAT.

Example Sentences

The book is part self-help book, with facts about the perimenopause and menopause transition; part memoir; part practical workbook with tools and resources; and part humor book, brimming with Sanders’ raw and authentic comedic style.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

A TikTok ad had steered him to “The Shadow Work Journal,” a slim workbook that directs readers to explore hidden parts of their subconscious — their shadow selves, in the book’s vernacular.

From New York Times • May 30, 2024

Each section ends with open-ended prompts with space for you to answer, which makes it a helpful workbook that you can complete as you go.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2024

The advocacy organization operates an AI assistant that is, essentially, a chatbot self-improvement workbook.

From Washington Post • Feb. 3, 2023

For an hour each morning—even Sundays—he makes her sit over a Braille workbook.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• cookbook
• guide
• guidebook
• handbook
• reference book
• text
• textbook