child labor

American  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of child labor

First recorded in 1875–80

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

child labor

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 early 20th century, Mr. Kimmel tells us, was the beginning of a “new American childhood,” whose hallmarks included the decline of child labor and a newfound emphasis on creative expression and play.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026

But records obtained under the California Public Records Act for that period show that only a small number of child labor enforcement actions involved the agricultural industry.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025

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

Suffragists saw the vote as a way they could make the world a better place by using it to increase wages, eliminate child labor, and reduce government corruption.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

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