working-class
|work-ing-class|
🇺🇸
/ˈwɜrkɪŋ klæs/
🇬🇧
/ˈwɜːkɪŋ klɑːs/
manual labor group
Etymology
'working-class' originates from the English words 'working' and 'class', where 'working' refers to labor and 'class' refers to a social group.
'working-class' evolved from the combination of 'working' and 'class' in the 19th century to describe the social group engaged in manual labor.
Initially, it referred to people engaged in manual labor, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.
The working class played a crucial role in the industrial revolution.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of the social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.
He grew up in a working-class neighborhood.
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Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45