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

Italy's economy is forecast to grow a lacklustre 0.6 percent in 2026, while real wages have been virtually stagnant since the early 1990s.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

However the figures are also likely to reflect the fact that real wages across the Northern Ireland private sector were rising in 2024.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Indeed, the economists expect inflation to outpace wage growth in the second half of the year, leading to a decline in real wages that will likely weigh on consumer spending.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

A third good labor report in a row, but real wages aren’t growing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

General high prices would not change general real wages.

From Principles Of Political Economy Abridged with Critical, Bibliographical, and Explanatory Notes, and a Sketch of the History of Political Economy by John Stuart Mill

Related Words

• net income