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

Manufacturing and retail have lagged behind export-driven sectors such as energy and mining, unemployment has edged higher and real wages have recovered only gradually, leaving many Argentines still feeling squeezed despite improving headline indicators.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 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 war has also placed major economic strain on the country at a time of rising inflation and falling real wages exacerbated by Western sanctions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

Consequently,   living standards have continued to fall - real wages are down over   40%.

From The 2001 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Related Words

• net income