on-the-job

IPA/ˌɒn.ðəˈdʒɒb/
IPA/ˌɑːn.ðəˈdʒɑːb/

on-the-job — adjective

1. learned, done, or happening through someone's regular work, not in a separate cl

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

learned, done, or happening through someone's regular work, not in a separate class or place

Example

The restaurant gives new cooks on-the-job training during quiet afternoons.

collocation: on-the-job training

Rosa gained on-the-job experience by helping customers at the service desk.

collocation: on-the-job experience

Common collocations
  • provide on-the-job training
  • gain on-the-job experience
  • suffer an on-the-job injury
  • receive on-the-job coaching
Synonyms
  • work-based

    is close, but it is especially common in education or placement programs

  • hands-on

    stresses practical activity, but not always learning at a real job

  • practical

    is broader and can describe useful, real-world learning in many settings

  • in-service

    is more formal and often used for training for people already employed

Antonyms
  • off-the-job

    describes training or activity away from the usual workplace

  • classroom-based

    stresses learning in lessons rather than through regular work

  • theoretical

    focuses on ideas rather than direct work experience

Grammar Patterns

on-the-job training

on-the-job experience

on-the-job injury

Usage Note

Almost always placed before a noun, especially training, experience, injury, practice, or coaching. Compare the open phrase on the job, which is more often used after a verb to mean someone is working.

Common Mistakes

The mechanic got training on job.
The mechanic got on-the-job training.
this fixed adjective normally keeps the full hyphenated form before the noun.
The workers learned by on-the-job.
The workers learned on the job.' / 'The workers received on-the-job training.
use the hyphenated form before a noun, but the open phrase after a verb.

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For adjective/1, on-the-job usually describes training, experience, or learning that happens during real daily work. Work-based is close, but it is used more in education programs, placements, or organized schemes. Hands-on stresses active practice and direct doing, but the practice may happen in a classroom, workshop, or lab instead of at a paid job. Practical is broader still and can describe useful learning in almost any setting. In-service is more formal and is often used for training for teachers, nurses, or other staff already employed. Say on-the-job training for skills learned while doing normal work, but hands-on practice for active practice in a lesson or workshop.

work-basedhands-on ↗practical ↗in-service ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • on-the-job training
  • on-the-job experience
  • on-the-job injury
  • on-the-job coaching

Etymology

English

This compound adjective grew from the English phrase on the job, meaning that someone is working or something happens during work. Writers later joined the words with hyphens when the phrase began to describe a noun directly, as in on-the-job training.

First known use

1938

1938, in the meaning defined above