blue-collar

[ bloo-kol-er ]

/ ˈbluˈkɒl ər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for blue-collar on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or relating to wage-earning workers who wear work clothes or other specialized clothing on the job, as mechanics, longshoremen, and miners.Compare white-collar.

noun

a blue-collar worker.

COMPARE MEANINGS

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of blue-collar

First recorded in 1945–50

Words nearby blue-collar

blue chip, blue chip stock, bluecoat, blue cod, blue cohosh, blue-collar, blue comb, blue coral, blue crab, blue crane, Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use blue-collar in a sentence

Clad in a blue, striped button-down, a silver watch adorning his left wrist, Huckabee beams on the cover.
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yeah, the “Giant man-puppy” that is Gronkowski won't hold a sexual candle to the blue-eyed dreamboat.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
GOP leaders refused; they saw that Duke was pulling blue-collar Democrats to the party.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It denotes the person that puts on the badge, puts on the blue uniform, and goes into the streets to put their life at risk.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They looked up into the blue sky as the helicopters flew over in a lost man formation.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos|Michael Daly|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In pursuing his alchemical researches, he discovered Prussian blue, and the animal oil which bears his name.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Mary is fair as the morning dew— Cheeks of roses and ribbons of blue!
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
His nose was hooked and rather large, his eyes were blue, bright as steel, and set a trifle wide.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
The most promising of the methods which have been devised are cryoscopy, the methylene-blue test, and the phloridzin test.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
He said no more in words, but his little blue eyes had an eloquence that left nothing to mere speech.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for blue-collar

blue-collar

adjective

of, relating to, or designating manual industrial workersa blue-collar union Compare white-collar, pink-collar

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for blue-collar

blue-collar

A descriptive term widely used for manual laborers, as opposed to white-collar for office workers.

notes for blue-collar

The term is often associated with conservative values.

blue-collar

COMPARE MEANINGS

Origin of blue-collar

Words nearby blue-collar

Words related to blue-collar

How to use blue-collar in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for blue-collar

Cultural definitions for blue-collar

notes for blue-collar