: the separation of labor into its components or into various distinct processes and their apportionment among different individuals, groups, or machines for the purpose of increasing productive efficiency: as
a. : the distribution of occupations or vocations among the members of society
division of labor in this tribe is limited to the separation between hunters and farmers
b. : the breaking up of technical tasks (as in a modern factory) into their component parts or processes and their distribution to specific individuals, groups, or machines
c. : specialization in the production of a specific commodity or group of commodities by a particular region or country