working-class

1 of 2

adjective

work·​ing-class ˈwər-kiŋ-ˈklas 

: of, relating to, deriving from, or suitable to the class of wage earners

working-class virtues

a working-class family

working class

2 of 2

noun

: the class of people who work for wages usually at manual labor

Examples of working-class in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That’s more than $500 extra annually for the typical family’s grocery bill — money that stays in working-class pockets when markets work freely — precisely while large volume retailers often provide the only real relief in this post-Biden inflation hangover. —Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

The Before Situation One thing to remember when renovating a Victorian home is that these structures predate air conditioning, and most working-class homes built in this era didn't have indoor bathrooms or electricity either. —Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026

Noun

The new mayor promised to bridge the divide between the Bay Area’s business community and its working class in a lasting fashion, but now, some business leaders fear the city is backsliding. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026

Wallflowers don’t go from a working class Mexican immigrant family to Stanford Law School. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1833, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1757, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for working-class

• candlemas
• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras

Kids Definition

working class

noun

: the class of people who work for wages usually in manual labor

working-class adjective