day laborer

noun

: one who works for daily wages especially as an unskilled laborer

Examples of day laborer in a Sentence

They hire day laborers to pick the apples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That led to a protest outside Home Depot among advocates for day laborers. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 13 June 2025 In Los Angeles, sudden sweeps of day laborers in Home Depot parking lots and workers at car washes and in the garment industry ignited protests that have spread to cities across the country. Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 13 June 2025 The big-box retailer, founded in 1978 and now boasting over 2,300 stores, has long been more than just a place to buy lumber and paint—it's also been an informal hiring hub for day laborers, many of them undocumented. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025 A day earlier, reports of federal immigration authorities apparently targeting day laborers waiting for work outside local Home Depot locations sparked protests in Santa Ana. Sean Emery, Oc Register, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for day laborer

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of day laborer was in 1528

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Day laborer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20laborer. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

day laborer

noun
: one who works by the day or for daily wages especially as an unskilled laborer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!