living wage
noun
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
And the lowest portion of workers living in poverty, demonstrating that workers in New Hampshire are paid a living wage.
—
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
All of the cities in the top five, including Toledo, Ohio, required a comfortable living wage between $36 and $38 per hour for one person.
—Isabela Ocampo Restrepo, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Aug. 2024
This year, however, the increase in Marin’s living wage won’t affect wages for IHSS workers because their union negotiated a new contract in June that increased the pay to $19 per hour.
—Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2024
Throughout the nation, thousands of construction industry tax cheats fail to pay their workers fair living wages and rarely provide medical coverage, while also failing to pay federal, state, and local taxes, overtime, and workers’ compensation benefits.
—William C. Sproule, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for living wage 
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.
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
All of the cities in the top five, including Toledo, Ohio, required a comfortable living wage between $36 and $38 per hour for one person.
—Isabela Ocampo Restrepo, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Aug. 2024
This year, however, the increase in Marin’s living wage won’t affect wages for IHSS workers because their union negotiated a new contract in June that increased the pay to $19 per hour.
—Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2024
Throughout the nation, thousands of construction industry tax cheats fail to pay their workers fair living wages and rarely provide medical coverage, while also failing to pay federal, state, and local taxes, overtime, and workers’ compensation benefits.
—William C. Sproule, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for living wage
Dictionary Entries Near living wage
Cite this Entry
“Living wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/living%20wage. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share