Definition of DIVISION OF LABOUR (noun): how work to be done is divided division of labour definition: 1. a way of organizing work, especially making things, so that particular types of work are done by…. work that is broken down into specialized tasks, each performed by a different set of people trained to do that task. French philosopher Emile Durkheim's book The Division of Labor in Society (or De la Division du Travail Social) debuted in 1893.It was his first major published work and the one in which he introduced the concept of anomie or the breakdown of the influence of … Define division of labor. The division of production into separate processes each of which is performed by different people. The division of labour is the separation of tasks in any economic system or organisation so that participants may specialize (specialization).Individuals, organisations, and nations are endowed with or acquire specialized capabilities and either form combinations or trade to take advantage of the capabilities of others in addition to their own. It boosts productivity and efficiency. Learn more. Division of labor is the separation of tasks in, for example, a manufacturing plant. If you split up workers and give them specific jobs to do, efficiency increases significantly. Another word for specialization. Find more ways to say specialization, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Related terms for 'division of labour': a good/smart/clever career move, appointment, background, business, call, calling, career, careers Definition of DIVISION OF LABOR (noun): making different people do different parts of work DIVISION OF LABOR (noun) American English definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary Collocations division of labor synonyms, division of labor pronunciation, division of labor translation, English dictionary definition of division of labor. Division of labor definition is - the breakdown of labor into its components and their distribution among different persons, groups, or machines to increase productive efficiency. division of labor. Division of labour, the separation of a work process into a number of tasks, with each task performed by a separate person or group of persons. Emile Durkheim, a French scholar in the 1700's, theorized that specialization was a way for people to compete in larger societies. Each worker performs a specific duty. It is most often applied to systems of mass production and is one of the basic organizing principles of the assembly line.Breaking down work into simple repetitive tasks eliminates unnecessary motion and limits the handling of different tools and parts. The people doing each task often live in different parts of the world. Theories About Division of Labor Adam Smith, a Scottish social philosopher, and economist theorized that humans practicing division of labor allows humans to be more productive and excel faster.