day laborer

noun

: one who works for daily wages especially as an unskilled laborer

Examples of day laborer in a Sentence

They hire day laborers to pick the apples.
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.
Key to that endeavor are the mostly undocumented day laborers who often do the physically taxing and dangerous work of clearing the rubble after a natural disaster recedes. Samantha Delouya, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025 Past fire disasters in the region hint at the challenges to come for day laborers and short-term hires who do physical work like construction or landscaping. Orlando Mayorquín, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025 This Is About Humanity has launched a fund supporting front and second-line migrant farm workers, day laborers, and other essential workers and their families severely impacted by the recent fires in Los Angeles. Taylor Mims, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019 Down below, day laborers are busy digging into chorizos, morcillas, and flank steaks grilled right at the construction site, and the scent signals that the weekend is near. Allie Lazar, Saveur, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for day laborer 

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of day laborer was in 1528

Dictionary Entries Near day laborer

Cite this Entry

“Day laborer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20laborer. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

day laborer

noun
: one who works by the day or for daily wages especially as an unskilled laborer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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