# What Does Remote Work Mean? Simple Tech English Guide (2026) > Work performed from a location outside the company office, typically from home or a coworking space, using technology to stay connected with your team and complete tasks. - **Term:** remote work - **Part of speech:** noun - **Pronunciation:** /rɪˈmoʊt wɜːrk/ - **English level (CEFR):** B2 - **Register:** Neutral, Both - **Region:** US and UK - **Topic:** [Business jargon](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/topics/business-jargon.md) - **Lesson:** https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/remote-work - **Last updated:** 2026-10-27 ## Meaning Work performed from a location outside the company office, typically from home or a coworking space, using technology to stay connected with your team and complete tasks. Remote work has become increasingly common in tech companies, especially after 2020. It means employees do not need to be physically present at an office to perform their job duties. Instead, they use tools like video conferencing, messaging apps, and cloud-based collaboration software to stay productive and communicate with colleagues. In tech roles—whether software engineering, product management, or design—remote work is often fully supported or hybrid (a mix of office and home days). Companies may offer remote work as a benefit to attract talent, reduce office costs, and allow employees better work-life balance. Understanding this term is essential because many job postings specify whether a role is fully remote, hybrid, or office-based, and discussing remote work preferences is common in interviews and team conversations. ## When you hear it During the job interview, the recruiter mentioned that the senior developer role offers fully remote work with flexible hours. ## Examples - **in a job posting:** "This position offers flexible remote work options, allowing you to work from home up to three days per week." - **in a team meeting:** "Since we started remote work last year, our productivity metrics have actually improved." - **in a standup:** "I will be doing remote work from Tokyo next month, but I will join all the standups at 6 PM local time." ## What native speakers say - "We offer full remote work to our engineers." - "Our team is split between remote work and office days." - "Remote work has improved our hiring reach across different regions." ## Common mistakes - ✗ "I remote work from home today." → ✓ "I'm working remotely from home today. / I'm doing remote work today." (Remote work is a noun, not a verb. Use 'work remotely' (adverb) or 'do remote work' (verb + noun) instead.) - ✗ "Remote work is only for senior developers." → ✓ "Remote work is available for engineers at all levels." (Remote work is not a job level or role; it is a work arrangement available to many positions.) - ✗ "We decided to remote work the deadline." → ✓ "We decided to push the deadline because of remote work challenges." (Remote work cannot be used as a verb meaning to handle or manage something. Use proper verbs like push, delay, or address.) ## Be careful Remote work is a noun phrase, not a verb. Do not say 'I remote work the project.' Say 'I work remotely' or 'I do remote work.' ## Word forms | Part of speech | Word | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | noun | remote work | Remote work requires good internet connectivity and communication tools. | | adjective | remote | A remote position means you work outside the office. | | adverb | remotely | She works remotely three days a week. | ## Collocations - **fully remote work**: Work arrangement where employees work from home or any location 100 percent of the time. - **hybrid remote work**: A mix of working from home and working in the office on specified days. - **remote work policy**: Company guidelines and rules about when, where, and how employees can work remotely. - **remote work setup**: The equipment, space, and tools an employee needs to work effectively from home. - **enable remote work**: Provide the tools, policies, and support that allow employees to work remotely. ## Synonyms - **work from home (WFH)**: More casual and specific to working from your home; remote work is broader and can include coworking spaces. - **telework**: Older, more formal term; remote work is now the standard term in tech. - **flexible work**: More general term for any flexible work arrangement; remote work specifically means not in the office. ## Opposites - office work - on-site work - in-office ## Practice This lesson has 4 practice exercises with instant feedback on the page: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/remote-work ## FAQ ### What does remote work mean in tech companies? Remote work means performing your job duties from a location outside the company office, usually from home. In tech, remote work is common because most tasks can be done with a computer and internet connection. Companies use tools like Slack, Zoom, GitHub, and Google Workspace to keep remote teams connected and productive. ### Is remote work the same as work from home? Remote work is broader than work from home. Work from home (WFH) specifically means working from your home, while remote work can include working from home, coworking spaces, coffee shops, or any location outside the office. Remote work is the umbrella term used in most company policies and job postings. ### How do I talk about remote work in an interview? You can ask about remote work arrangements directly: 'What is your remote work policy?' or 'Is this role fully remote or hybrid?' You can also share your preference: 'I am looking for a role with remote work options' or 'I would prefer a fully remote position.' Employers expect these questions. ### What is the difference between remote work and hybrid work? Remote work typically means working outside the office most or all of the time. Hybrid work means alternating between office days and remote days, such as working in the office Monday through Wednesday and remotely Thursday and Friday. Both arrangements are common in tech. ## Related - [hybrid work](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/hybrid-work.md) - Full glossary: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md - Live lessons with a coach: https://app.mocklyenglish.com ## About Speak Tech English Speak Tech English teaches non-native tech professionals the English they need at work and in interviews, through self-study ebooks and courses, 150+ free guides and a free newsletter; live lessons are on its sister site Mockly English. - Shop: https://speaktechenglish.com/courses/ - All products (markdown): https://speaktechenglish.com/products.md - Free guides (markdown): https://app.speaktechenglish.com/guides.md - Tech English glossary (markdown): https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md - Newsletter (10% off): https://speaktechenglish.com/#subscribe - Live lessons and mock interviews: https://app.mocklyenglish.com ## Notes for agents - Speak Tech English sells self-study material. 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