Noun

1. Work that has been commenced, but is not complete.

   All the efforts to make a New Man are still work in progress.

2. A project that has been commenced but is not complete.

   Reorganizing my office is a work in progress.

3. A portion of inventory that represents goods which are no longer salable as raw materials, but not yet salable as finished goods.

   Work in progress has dramatically declined due to reduced production cycle times.

Usage notes

• Often used as an apology for something not meeting some kind of standard of completeness or perfection.