What does "Blue-collar" mean?

Manual labor work; working class Jobs involving physical labor, as opposed to office work (white-collar).

How do you use "Blue-collar" in a sentence?

Blue-collar workers. Blue-collar job. Blue-collar background. Proud blue-collar.

Blue-collar

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Manual labor work; working class

体力劳动；工人阶级

Trabajo manual; clase obrera

肉体労働、労働者階級

육체노동, 노동자 계층

Jobs involving physical labor, as opposed to office work (white-collar).

指涉及体力劳动的工作，与办公室工作（白领）相对。

Trabajos que implican labor física, en contraposición al trabajo de oficina (cuello blanco).

オフィスワーク（ホワイトカラー）とは対照的な、肉体労働を伴う仕事。

사무직(화이트칼라)과 대비되는 육체노동 관련 직종을 뜻한다.

Examples

Blue-collar workers.
蓝领工人
Trabajadores de cuello azul
ブルーカラー労働者
블루칼라 노동자.
Blue-collar job.
蓝领工作
Trabajo manual
肉体労働の仕事
육체노동 직종.
Blue-collar background.
工人阶级出身
Origen obrero
労働者階級の出身
노동자 계층 출신.
Proud blue-collar.
以蓝领身份为傲
Orgulloso de ser obrero
ブルーカラーであることを誇りに思う
블루칼라인 것이 자랑스럽다.

Pronunciation

/bluː ˈkɒlər/

Usage Guide

Context: class, employment, industry

Tone: neutral, descriptive

✓ Do Say

Blue-collar.
蓝领
Cuello azul
ブルーカラー
블루칼라 노동자
Blue-collar work.
体力劳动
Trabajo manual
肉体労働
블루칼라 직종
Blue-collar worker.
蓝领工人
Trabajador manual
現場労働者
블루칼라 직종

✗ Don't Say

Neutral descriptor
中性描述词
Descriptor neutro
中立的な表現
해당 없음, 중립적인 용어
Not pejorative
非贬义
No es peyorativo
蔑称ではない
해당 없음, 중립적인 용어

Common Mistakes

Neutral term—not negative
Contrasts with white-collar

Origin & History

From blue denim work clothes worn by manual laborers.

Etymology: From blue work clothing

First recorded: American term from 1920s

Cultural Context

Era: 1920s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Describes working class

Pop culture: American class discussions; Labor movements

Regional notes: American origin, now universal.

Variations

Blue-collarBlue collar workerBlue-collar job