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.
The union is demanding a 4% increase in pay for staff earning above a living wage, for the V&A to become an accredited London living-wage employer within 12 months, and time-and-a-half pay for work done on bank holidays. — News Desk, Artforum, 27 Oct. 2026 The mayor and the Council are ready to help with retraining and real jobs that carry a living wage and benefits. — Al Sharpton, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026 The pilot found that workers were earning around 30 to 35 percent below a living wage benchmark, highlighting a challenge that often remains hidden within supply chains. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 Denver’s massive gap in the number of childcare providers available, compared to the number of children living in the city, means that attracting caregivers and paying them a living wage will be one of the program’s biggest challenges. — Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2026.

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