blue-collar

adjective

blue-col·​lar ˈblü-ˈkä-lər 

1

: of, relating to, or constituting the class of wage earners whose duties call for the wearing of work clothes or protective clothing compare white-collar

2

: having characteristics associated with blue-collar workers: such as

a

: having, showing, or appealing to unpretentious or unsophisticated tastes

a new blue-collar serial … woven around a minor-league baseball team

—Steven Flax

b

: dependable and hard-working rather than showy or spectacular

a blue-collar athlete

Examples of blue-collar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An Eagles all-time great, Bill was a legendary linebacker who gained the respect of players and coaches across the league for his blue-collar work ethic and hard-nosed play. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024

Trump cleaning up with blue-collar voters, voters – white voters without college degrees. —NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024

Growing up in a blue-collar, deeply Christian home, he was shaped by the Bible and the conservative politics of self-reliance. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

Weighing the benefits White, who started his career in a blue-collar role and later transitioned to a white-collar position in the same company, has a unique perspective on what makes each type of work rewarding. —Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

blue-collar

adjective

ˈblü-ˈkäl-ər

: of or relating to the class of workers whose duties require work clothes