telecommuting

IPA/ˌtelikəˈmjuːtɪŋ/
KK[tɛləkəmjˈutɪŋ]IPA/ˌtelikəˈmjuːtɪŋ/

telecommuting — noun

1. an arrangement in which you do your job at home and stay in contact with your wo

1.nounB2
Definition

an arrangement in which you do your job at home and stay in contact with your workplace by computer, email, or phone

Example

After the bridge closed, Wren switched to telecommuting three days a week.

switch to telecommuting + time expression

Sana likes telecommuting because her office is two hours from home.

Common collocations
  • full-time telecommuting
  • telecommuting policy
  • allow telecommuting
  • telecommuting schedule
Synonyms
  • telework

    very close in meaning and especially common in formal or policy writing

  • remote work

    broader term that can include working away from home as well as from home

  • home working

    mainly British wording for doing your job from home

Grammar Patterns

switch to telecommuting

telecommuting policy

days of telecommuting

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and common in workplace policy, HR writing, and news about company rules. In everyday speech, many people now prefer the phrase 'work from home' for a single day or short arrangement.

Common Mistakes

I did a telecommuting today.
I did some telecommuting today.
this noun is usually uncountable in general statements.

telecommuting — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun sense 1, telecommuting and telework both describe doing your job away from the main office while staying connected by phone or internet. Telework is slightly broader and often appears in government or company policy language. Telecommuting still carries the idea of avoiding the usual trip into work, so it can sound a little more formal or slightly older than remote work. Remote work is now the widest everyday label because it can include home, shared offices, or even travel. Work from home is the plain spoken phrase people use for a specific day or short arrangement. A manager may announce a remote-work policy, but an employee may simply say, 'I'm working from home tomorrow because the train line is closed.'

telecommuting ↗teleworkremote workwork from home ↗

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Telecommuting was formed in modern English by combining tele-, meaning 'at a distance', with commuting. The word grew from the idea that new technology could let people stay connected to an office without making the usual daily trip there.

First known use

1974

1974, in the meaning defined above