jobsworthn.
/ˈdʒɒbzwəːθ/, /ˈdʒɒbzwəθ/, U.S. /ˈdʒɑbzˌwərθ/ British colloquial (depreciative).
A person in authority (esp. a minor official) who insists on adhering to rules and regulations or bureaucratic procedures even at the expense of common sense.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > [noun] > rigour or severity of rules, judgement, or discipline > one who advocates strict adherence to rules
puritan1841
jobsworth1970
society > authority > office > holder of office > [noun] > officious or petty
Jack in office1652
red-tapist1832
red-taper1837
Bumble1846
red tapeworm1851
tapist1852
jobsworth1970
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [noun] > inflexibility > inflexible person
rigida1646
rigidist1716
inexorable1748
stickler1799
tough1928
no man1930
toughie1960
hard-ass1962
jobsworth1970
1970 Melody Maker 12 Sept. 29/4 If you are a taxi-driver, jobsworth or policeman, you will now be able to understand hippie lingo.
1982 Times 2 Oct. 19/1 That's Life. Consumer programme which includes the first contenders for the Jobsworth Award, given to the person who enforces the most stupid rule.
1987 Punch 20 May 47 Now we all know park-keepers—‘jobsworths’ to the man. (‘It's more than my job's worth to let you in here/play ball/walk on the grass/film my ducks.’).
1996 D. Brimson & E. Brimson Everywhere we Go xvii. 228 More efficient and helpful (happy) stewards and policemen would be a vast improvement on the jobsworths we currently find ourselves saddled with.
2002 Wanderlust Feb. 65/1 Officials—jobsworths the lot of 'em, from four-forms-for-one-train-ticket bureaucrats to power-crazed border police.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1970