Menial
/ˈmiːniəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Menial means work or jobs that do not need special skills or education and are often considered less important or low-status. These tasks usually involve physical labor or simple duties that many people find boring or hard. Menial work is often necessary but not highly respected.
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See It in Action
Describing simple, low-status work or tasks
- •She did menial chores around the house, like cleaning and cooking.
- •Many immigrants start with menial jobs when they move to a new country.
- •The company hired workers for menial tasks such as sorting and packing.
(Rarely used as a noun) A person doing menial work (less common)
- •He worked as a menial in the factory before getting a better position.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "menial" like "simple" (A1 word), but with the idea that the task is also low in importance or respect
- ✓Picture someone cleaning floors or washing dishes—tasks that are basic and require effort but not special knowledge
- ✓It's the feeling when you do a job that others might not want because it is tiring or not exciting
- ✓Sounds like "MEAN-yul" → imagine a person quietly doing a small, hard job without attention or praise
- ✓Think of a story where a character starts with menial work before becoming successful, like a helper or servant learning skills
- ✓NOT like "important" or "skilled" work that needs training or special knowledge
- ✓NOT like "fun" or "creative" work, menial jobs are often routine and repetitive
- ✓NOT like "manager" or "leader" roles, menial jobs usually involve following instructions, not making decisions
Try Other Words
- •Basic: simple and necessary (Use when the task is easy but may not have the feeling of low status)
- •Routine: regular and repeated tasks (Use when emphasizing repetition rather than low importance)
- •Low-level: work with little responsibility or status (Use when focusing on the job's position in a hierarchy)
- •Manual: involving physical work by hand (Use when emphasizing physical effort)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; "menial" is a whole adjective)
- •Etymology: From Old French "menial" meaning "servant" or "domestic," originally from Latin "ministerialis," meaning "servant"
- •Historical development: Originally referred to servants or tasks done by servants, later came to mean any low-status or simple work
- •Modern usage: Used to describe jobs or tasks considered low in skill or importance, often physical or repetitive labor
Reflect & Connect
•How do people feel about menial work in different cultures or societies? Is it always seen as negative?
•Can menial tasks be important even if they seem simple? How does that change your view of such work?
Fill in the blanks
1.Many immigrants take menial jobs because they ___ special skills or education.
2.Menial work often involves ___ tasks like cleaning or carrying heavy objects.
3.Unlike skilled jobs, menial tasks usually require little ___ or training.
4.People sometimes feel ___ when doing menial work because it is low-status.
5.Menial jobs are often ___ and repeated every day without much change.
6.He started with menial work but later moved to a ___ position with more responsibility.
7.Menial work is different from creative work because it is usually ___ and not imaginative.