real wages

American  

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

plural noun

Economics.

1. wages estimated not in money but in purchasing power.

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real wages British  

plural noun

1. economics wages evaluated with reference to their purchasing power rather than to the money actually paid Compare money wages

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real wages Cultural  

1. Wages adjusted for the prevailing level of consumer prices. (See also constant dollars.)

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Etymology

Origin of real wages

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

real wages

That reflects the risk that higher fuel prices will erode gains in real wages and make households more cautious.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

“Even if the war ends quickly, the economy will likely take some time to reset, and real wages may take a hit until then,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026

The decrease in real wages is “a big turnaround from the past few years, when wages were growing well above inflation for most workers.”

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 10, 2026

Consumer spending, two-thirds of US GDP, is pressured by falling real wages; AI enthusiasm also appears shaky.

From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026

It is true that general satisfaction with them will be largely governed by the course of real wages after they have been in force a while.

From The Settlement of Wage Disputes by Feis, Herbert

Related Words

• net income