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.
Raising the minimum wage is a first step to having living wages which will help with affordability. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026 Living in sunny paradise, teaching less than 20 hours a week, being paid what might be considered a living wage, but only if your standards are low enough. — Aimie K. Runyan, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026 Another goal of Grove, which Stidham owns with three minority partners, is to pay employees a living wage. — Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026 Reformation, known for feminine dresses, launched in 2009 and pledged to make clothes from leftover fabrics and pay its workers a living wages. — Elizabeth Cline, The Atlantic, 19 May 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

Rhymes for living wage

See All Rhymes for living wage

Browse Nearby Words

living unit
living wage
living will
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Living wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/living%20wage. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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