sweatshop

noun

sweat·​shop ˈswet-ˌshäp How to pronounce sweatshop (audio)
: a shop or factory in which employees work for long hours at low wages and under unhealthy conditions

Examples of sweatshop in a Sentence

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.
Like other on- and offline fast-fashion retailers, Boohoo has been trying to move on from a series of sweatshop scandals. Samantha Conti, WWD, 18 Oct. 2024 The film, written and directed by Mohit Ramchandani, tells the story of a young Mexican farmer who travels to L.A. with the promise of training at a soccer camp, only to realize he’s been sold to a sweatshop. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024 This reporter never thought that their humble Colombian immigrant grandmother, who sewed garments in New York sweatshops, could have been three and four generations removed from slave owners. Edward Rueda, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2024 From mafia style business practices to sweatshop labor, not to even mention the environmental costs. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sweatshop 

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweatshop was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near sweatshop

Cite this Entry

“Sweatshop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweatshop. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sweatshop

noun
sweat·​shop -ˌshäp How to pronounce sweatshop (audio)
: a shop or factory in which employees work long hours at low wages under unhealthy conditions

More from Merriam-Webster on sweatshop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!