Definitions

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.

While the U.S. added jobs in fields such as healthcare and education in 2025, signs are growing that the white-collar labor market is now seizing up.

From The Wall Street Journal

The rise of single, white-collar female consumers has boosted sales of boutique fitness memberships, wellness treatments, cosmetics, and personal-care products—categories less vulnerable to the weak property market.

From Barron's

Other topics we delve into include the anxiety of white-collar workers, why we love those Christmas songs and great places to see in 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal

They surveyed 319 white-collar workers who used AI tools for their jobs at least once per week about how they apply critical thinking when using them.

From BBC

In May, he predicted that AI’s capabilities will increase until close to 50% of all entry-level white-collar jobs might be wiped out in five years.

From Los Angeles Times