living wage
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of living wage
First recorded in 1885–90
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.
Employers, Mr. Vance accordingly thinks, should pay workers a fair or living wage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
Particularly in hospitality, which has seen sharp rises in the national living wage and employers' national insurance contributions.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
The “gig economy” entered the lingo in 2009, as increasing numbers of people tried to cobble two or more part-time, no-benefit “gigs” into a living wage.
From Barron's ● May 20, 2026
As supervisor she would do more to support jobs that pay a living wage, so residents rely less on county services.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
Soon the Rad Lab would have to pay its scientists a living wage.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
