English Word · Intermediate
roughneck
A labourer on an oil rig or in the oilpatch, either skilled or semiskilled
Pronunciation: /ˈɹʌfˌnɛk/
Meaning
A labourer on an oil rig or in the oilpatch, either skilled or semiskilled.
Example
As for the minerals, there has been a good deal of drilling along the big river; trucks and roughnecks no longer garner any notice.
As for the minerals, there has been a good deal of drilling along the big river; trucks and roughnecks no longer garner any notice.
Practice tips
- Practice roughneck out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English word is for intermediate-level learners.