In Britain, the terms colleagues and coworkers often get tangled up, but they have distinct meanings in the workplace. A colleague refers to someone involved in the same profession or industry, often implying a shared respect and collaborative spirit across different organisations. Conversely, a coworker is someone employed in the same company, regardless of their departmental role or position.
For instance, two lecturers at different universities might call each other colleagues because they belong to the same academic sphere. Meanwhile, employees working under the same corporate umbrella might typically be considered coworkers, even if they're in separate departments.
The subtle difference between colleagues and coworkers can depend heavily on cultural and organisational variables, though these terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation.
