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Meaning & use

working document

noun·Academicbusiness

Last updated

UK/ˈwɜːkɪŋ ˈdɒkjʊmənt/
US/ˈwɜːrkɪŋ ˈdɑːkjʊmənt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablebusiness

    A written file that is still being edited and updated by its authors, so it is not yet in its final form.

    Grammar: Countable: a working document, several working documents.

    Patterns

    • a working document for something
    • share a working document

    Please treat this plan as a working document, because details may change.

    The team shared a working document so everyone could add notes.

    The committee circulated a working document before the meeting.

  2. nouncountablebusiness

    A document used for day-to-day tasks, such as a draft, checklist or notes, rather than for publication.

    Grammar: Often contrasted with a final report.

    Patterns

    • a working document on something

    My spreadsheet is just a working document and not for clients.

    Keep the budget as a working document until it is approved.

    The editors kept a working document with all the changes.

Word forms

pluralworking documents

Common combinations

a shared working document
We use a shared working document for the project.
update the working document
Update the working document after each meeting.
circulate a working document
She circulated a working document to the board.
a working document for discussion
This is a working document for discussion only.
a living working document
The policy is a living working document.

Synonyms and how they differ

draft
A draft is an early version of a specific text, while a working document may keep changing indefinitely.
living document
A living document is deliberately updated over time, so it suggests permanent change.
workbook
A workbook is a set of pages or sheets used to do tasks, so it is narrower.
white paper
A white paper is a finished report that argues a position, the opposite of an unfinished working document.

Opposites

final version

Word family

work verb
to do tasks or function
document noun
a written or electronic record
document verb
to record in writing
documentation noun
written records or instructions

Commonly confused: working document or working paper?

working document vs working paper

A working paper is an early academic study shared for comments, while a working document may be any evolving file.

Practice

When a manager calls a file a working document, what do they mean?

Make it your own

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