white-collar

[hwahyt-kol-er, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˈkɒl ər, ˈwaɪt- /

ADJECTIVE

non-manual

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clerical salaried

WEAK

executive office professional

NOUN

office worker

Synonyms

STRONG

administrator clerk employee executive jobholder manager supervisor worker

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the UK, where services account for around 80 percent of the economy, AI has become flexible, fast and inexpensive competition for many white-collar workers, with the impacts beginning to emerge.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

China’s campaign to accelerate AI adoption, released last August and dubbed “AI+,” gives priority to using the technology in sectors such as manufacturing and logistics, which aren’t as sensitive to white-collar job displacement.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Last year, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted External link that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level, white-collar jobs within five years.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

There’s also the new worry about AI replacing white-collar jobs.

From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026

Liberals and conservatives, traditionalists and reformers, white-collar officials and blue-collar miners, all remained loyal to him, not because they always agreed with him, but because the regent listened to and respected all different opinions.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela