white-collar

American  

[hwahyt-kol-er, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˈkɒl ər, ˈwaɪt- /

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the ranks of office and professional workers whose jobs generally do not involve manual labor or the wearing of a uniform or work clothes.

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noun

1. a white-collar worker.

white-collar British  

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating nonmanual and usually salaried workers employed in professional and clerical occupations Compare blue-collar pink-collar

   white-collar union

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white-collar Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for office workers, who use a minimum of physical exertion, as opposed to blue-collar laborers. Managerial, clerical, and sales jobs are common white-collar occupations.

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Etymology

Origin of white-collar

First recorded in 1920–25

Compare meaning

How does white-collar compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• blue-collar vs. white-collar

Example Sentences

Landing a white-collar job is getting so tough that candidates—not companies—are paying recruiters to match them with positions.

From The Wall Street Journal

He joined the Journal in mid-2023 from Reuters, where he worked as an investigative reporter focused on white-collar crime and as a correspondent in Venezuela and Spain.

From The Wall Street Journal

For burned-out white-collar workers, it has become a popular midcareer fantasy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dave focuses on the Justice Department, Securities and Exchange Commission and other law enforcement agencies that investigate white-collar crime and fraud.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now, with “Send Help,” comes a twist on white-collar warfare.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• clerical
• salaried