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

“The concern is that nominal wage growth may not keep pace with inflation, which will weigh on real wages and dampen consumer spending,” Tan said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

In June, real wages swung back to positive territory with an 0.8% increase from May.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy grew, on average, only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed a series of domestic and international economic shocks.

From The 2005 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Related Words

• net income