working-class

1 of 2

adjective

work·​ing-class ˈwər-kiŋ-ˈklas How to pronounce working-class (audio)
: of, relating to, deriving from, or suitable to the class of wage earners
working-class virtues
a working-class family

working class

2 of 2

noun

: the class of people who work for wages usually at manual labor

Examples of working-class in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Wages have been stagnant since the 1970s and many traditional working-class jobs have vanished. Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 President-elect Trump's decisive win signals a political realignment for the country, as huge gains in support among Latino and working-class voters helped propel Mr. Trump to a White House return. NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
In 2016 and 2020, the Des Moines Register polls picked up on Trump’s support among the white working class voters that broke his way across the Midwest and Rust Belt. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024 Carlson is probably right that whichever party is most associated with the interests of the working class, in 2026 or 2028 or beyond, will be the party best positioned to win national majorities for a generation. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for working-class 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1833, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of working-class was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near working-class

working circle

working-class

working class

Cite this Entry

“Working-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working-class. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

working class

noun
: the class of people who work for wages usually in manual labor
working-class adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on working-class

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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