Pronunciation: [dɹˈʌd͡ʒɹi] (IPA) 
The word "drudgery" (/ˈdrʌdʒəri/) is spelled with a "d" followed by an "r" and "u" making a short "uh" sound, then "d" and "g" making a hard "g" sound. The letters "e" and "r" at the end of the word make the "er" sound. "Drudgery" refers to dull, tedious work that requires a lot of effort, and the spelling accurately captures the feeling of dragging oneself through a painful laborious task.
Drudgery is defined as a monotonous, tedious, and laborious work or task that requires sustained effort and does not provide satisfaction or fulfillment. It refers to the undesirable and repetitive aspects of a job or activity that typically lack motivation, creativity, or excitement, giving rise to feelings of boredom and frustration.
The term often implies a sense of hardship, as drudgery can lead to mental and physical exhaustion due to its repetitive and unrewarding nature. Drudgery is commonly associated with manual labor or low-skilled jobs that involve routine and mundane tasks. For example, jobs involving cleaning, repetitive assembly line work, data entry, or other administrative tasks can be considered as drudgery.
The word drudgery can also describe any long and arduous undertaking that demands persistence and hard work without any sense of satisfaction or enjoyment. This can include household chores, academic assignments, or any activity that feels laborious and requires significant time and effort.
The concept of drudgery has been widely used to express the negative aspects of work that lacks meaning or creativity, highlighting the contrast between mindless labor and engaging, fulfilling work. It characterizes tasks that are often performed out of necessity rather than personal choice and can evoke feelings of monotony, boredom, and disenchantment.
Hard and continuous labour; ignoble toil.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "drudgery" originated in the late 16th century from the combination of two Middle English words, "drudge" and "-ery".
The term "drudge" entered English from Old English "drōgan", meaning "to work", which evolved into "drudgen" in Middle English. "Drudge" referred to a person who labored, often performing menial or hard work. This Old English word likely comes from the Middle Low German word "dröge", meaning "laborious" or "hardworking".
The "-ery" suffix, commonly used for nouns denoting a condition or quality, was added to "drudge" to form "drudgery". This addition emphasizes the enduring, repetitive, and tiresome nature of the work performed by a drudge.
