living wage

noun

1

: a subsistence wage

2

: a wage sufficient to provide the necessities and comforts essential to an acceptable standard of living

Examples of living wage in a Sentence

He was barely earning a living wage.

Recent Examples on the Web

The seventh edition of Fashion Checker, released Wednesday for Living Wage Action Day, updates brands’ living wage and transparency scores. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

The coalition of more than 80 unions and various community groups is pushing for living wage jobs, new housing units and protections for immigrant workers. — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

The announcement follows similar action taken by workers at various branches of the V&A Museum in London, who voted to strike over pay, working conditions, and the institution’s refusal to seek living wage accreditation. — News Desk, Artforum, 3 Aug. 2026

Maybe that means hiring full-time refs and paying them a living wage. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for living wage

• disengage
• interstage
• macrophage
• multistage
• age
• gauge
• phage
• plage
• rage
• stage
• alienage
• assuage