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white-collar
[ hwahyt-kol-er, wahyt- ]
adjective
- belonging or pertaining to the ranks of office and professional workers whose jobs generally do not involve manual labor or the wearing of a uniform or work clothes.
noun
- a white-collar worker.
white-collar
adjective
- See pink-collar, blue-collarof, relating to, or designating nonmanual and usually salaried workers employed in professional and clerical occupations Compare blue-collar pink-collar
white-collar union
white-collar
- A descriptive term for office workers, who use a minimum of physical exertion, as opposed to blue-collar laborers. Managerial, clerical, and sales jobs are common white-collar occupations.
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Word History and Origins
Origin of white-collar1
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Compare Meanings
How does white-collar compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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Example Sentences
Robert Downey Jr. plays the son, a bigwig Chicago attorney who proudly defends wealthy white-collar criminals.
Even in 1999, this gilded cage of a cushy but unstimulating white-collar career was only available to certain people.
As a consequence, the white-collar gays of D.C. have turned Secret into a dumping ground for personalized gossip.
By the early 20th century, white-collar work was more common—and more regimented.
I thought it would be an incredible departure to see that white-collar prison.
A white shirt and white collar fairly hurt the eye, being in such sharp contrast with Bill's dark skin and darker beard.
A great white collar flashed about his neck against the somber hue of his face and his coal-black eyes.
Sam Stay looked at the black coat and the white collar in doubt.
The stout clergyman in the immaculate white collar beamed benevolently at the questioner and shook his head with a gentle smile.
"And you've got no collar on" (Tess had been accustomed to wear a little white collar at the dairy).
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