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

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

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

As paychecks lagged, real wages fell—down 3.6% over the year ending in June 2022—and the federal minimum wage reached its lowest real value since 1956.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

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

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

In order to establish any rational basis, the relation must be between real wages or standard of living and efficiency.

From The Evolution of Modern Capitalism A Study of Machine Production by Hobson, J. A. (John Atkinson)

Related Words

• net income