living wage

noun

Synonyms of living wagenext
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
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.
If one parent is working, the calculator found $55 an hour is needed for a living wage. Tim Fang, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026 Based on those costs, MIT estimates the living wage for a family of four in the Austin metro area is $112,866 a year, or $49,322 for an individual. Data Reporter, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026 Sadler emphasized that the struggle for a living wage is a communitywide issue. Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026 What is considered a living wage in Kansas City in 2026? Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for living wage

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of living wage was in 1817

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Cite this Entry

“Living wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/living%20wage. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

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