Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for child labor. Search instead for child boy.

child labor

American  

noun

  1. the gainful employment of children below an age determined by law or custom.


Etymology

Origin of child labor

First recorded in 1875–80


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Their stories also touch on serious issues from the periods in which the books are set, such as the introduction of child labor laws or the privations of wartime life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026

It was a reaction to corporate abuses and corrupt governance and horrific things like child labor and environmental destruction.

From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2026

The new enforcement efforts will be overseen by the state Labor and Workforce Development Agency, which directs key agencies charged with regulating child labor and worksite safety laws, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025

Congress prohibited child labor under age 14 in 1916.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

We called for an end to child labor.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training