working girl

See synonyms for working girl on Thesaurus.com

noun

Older Use: Often Offensive. a woman who works.
Slang. a prostitute.

Origin of working girl

First recorded in 1860–65 for def. 1; 1965–70 for def. 2

usage note For working girl

The meaning “woman who works” has declined in use because of possible confusion with the other meaning, “prostitute.” And the use of girl to refer to an adult woman is often perceived as insulting and demeaning. See also girl.

Words Nearby working girl

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use working girl in a sentence

These were women who had come to the city in the 1980s, as part of “the working girl.”
Candace Bushnell Defends ‘The Carrie Diaries’ | Ramin Setoodeh | March 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Ilsa, She-Wolf of the S.S. Sigourney Weaver in working girl.
Palin vs. The Power Girls | Tina Brown | October 5, 2008 | THE DAILY BEAST
Dot claimed that one of those filthy tabloids had offered her that much for them—and what was a poor working-girl to do?
In the Dark | Ronal Kayser
The highest form of club life developed among working girls represents, to the working girl, her college.
The Leaven in a Great City | Lillian William Betts
As one recalls this club, it presents one of the best evidences of the barrenness of the working-girl's life in New York.
The Leaven in a Great City | Lillian William Betts

By an unfortunate circumstance, the working girl living at that number was away from the factory two days at this time.
The Leaven in a Great City | Lillian William Betts
The working girl has suffered quite as much at the hands of yellow journalism as the woman of wealth and social position.
The Leaven in a Great City | Lillian William Betts

British Dictionary definitions for working girl

working girl

noun

a girl or woman who works, esp one who supports herself
informal a prostitute

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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