English Lexicon

Blue-collar worker

/ˈbluːˌkɒl.ər ˈwɜː.kər/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #4500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A working-class person who performs manual labor, typically in industries such as manufacturing, warehousing, construction, or maintenance.

    "The factory heavily relies on skilled blue-collar workers to keep the production line running efficiently."
  2. 2

    An employee who receives hourly wages rather than an annual salary, often associated with physical trade jobs.

    "Economic policies in recent years have increasingly focused on creating better opportunities for blue-collar workers."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the phrase 'blue collar,' which originated in the mid-20th century in the United States, referring to the traditional blue denim or chambray shirts worn by manual laborers. This contrasted with 'white-collar' workers who wore white dress shirts in office environments.

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