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

What is considered a living wage in Missouri in 2025? —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2025

Here’s how the numbers break down: What is considered a living wage in California in 2025? —Kendrick Marshall, Sacramento Bee, 19 Feb. 2025

The living wage and minimum wage differ — living wage factors in basic expenses while minimum wage is set by state law. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025

Listen to this article Housing Authority of Cook County union workers ratified two new union contracts this week, earning average salary floor raises of 4% and 7% and annual cost of living wage increases of 3% and 4%. —Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for living wage

• disengage
• interstage
• macrophage
• multistage
• age
• gauge
• phage
• plage
• rage
• stage
• alienage
• assuage