work that involves handling papers: forms or letters or reports etc.
"After getting married, they spent their entire weekend sorting through all the paperwork required by the government."
routine work involving written documents
"The new employee spent his first week drowning in paperwork, sorting through stacks of forms and receipts."
In plain English: Paperwork is any official document you have to fill out, sign, and keep track of for school or work.
"I need to finish my paperwork before I can go on vacation."
Usage: Paperwork refers to any collection of official forms, receipts, or letters that must be completed and filed. Use this term specifically when discussing administrative tasks rather than physical sheets of paper used for writing notes.
Paperwork is a straightforward compound word formed by combining paper and work. It was first used to describe the task of handling documents made from paper.