white-collar

adjective

white-col·​lar ˈ(h)wīt-ˈkä-lər 

: of, relating to, or constituting the class of salaried employees whose duties do not call for the wearing of work clothes or protective clothing compare blue-collar

Examples of white-collar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with helping state officials in subduing street criminals, the administration gestured toward the problems of white-collar crime, reactionary vigilantism, and even white supremacist violence. —Anthony Gregory / Made By History, TIME, 23 July 2024

The wave of remote work brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic further empowered white-collar workers with more autonomy through remote work. —Matt Beane, Harvard Business Review, 22 July 2024

Back to top National Debt Hawks National Debt Hawks: Right-leaning Gen X professionals in white-collar roles with incomes over $150,000. —Jim Sergent, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024

Workers reject ’996’ culture Li is not the only white-collar worker who has found a better work-life balance by trading an office job for manual labor. —Chris Lau, CNN, 20 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

white-collar

adjective

ˈhwīt-ˈkäl-ər,

ˈwīt-

: of, relating to, or being a member of the class of workers (as clerks and salespersons) whose duties do not require the wearing of work clothes