working-class

1 of 2

adjective

work·​ing-class ˈwər-kiŋ-ˈklas How to pronounce working-class (audio)
: 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
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.
Adjective
Spurred by the Santa Ana winds, the fires destroyed over 17,000 structures, many of them in the historically Black and working-class neighborhood of Altadena. River Selby august 25, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025 The actor, who died on Aug. 17 at 87, was the very pulse of the Swinging Sixties: a working-class kid who became a cultural icon, only to defy the ephemerality of fame with a career that spanned six decades, morphing from heartthrob to one of the most versatile character actors of his time. Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
Ultimately, the working class will continue to shape elections as 62 percent of Americans remain without a college degree and, according to Statista, only 34 percent of households earn over $100,000. Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025 The British working class established high tea as a quick meal after the workday ended, often served at pubs on high tables (hence the name). Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for working-class

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1833, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of working-class was in 1757

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Working-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/working-class. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

working class

noun
: the class of people who work for wages usually in manual labor
working-class adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on working-class

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