noun
sweatshop
SWEHT-shop
Sweatshop (noun) means a factory or workshop where employees work long hours for low pay in poor or unsafe conditions. Example: “The report exposed sweatshop conditions in the overseas clothing factory.”
noun
1
A factory or workshop where employees work long hours for low pay in poor or unsafe conditions.
"I was thrilled to be able to build my own shoes, and my personal iD was offered as a small token of appreciation for the sweatshop workers poised to help me realize my vision."
— Jonah Peretti, Jonah Peretti and Nike (2001)
"The report exposed sweatshop conditions in the overseas clothing factory."
"Consumers are increasingly asking whether their clothes were made in a sweatshop."
How to use sweatshop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA workplace known for exploiting workers with poor conditions and unfairly low wages.
Common pairings
sweatshop labor
sweatshop conditions
run a sweatshop
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Word forms
- Plural
- sweatshops
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The report exposed _____ conditions in the overseas clothing factory.
Etymology
From "sweat" (in the sense of extracting labor from someone unfairly) plus "shop."
Frequently asked questions
What does “sweatshop” mean?
The word “sweatshop” means a factory or workshop where employees work long hours for low pay in poor or unsafe conditions. In plain terms, a workplace known for exploiting workers with poor conditions and unfairly low wages.
How do you pronounce “sweatshop”?
“Sweatshop” is pronounced SWEHT-shop (/ˈswɛtˌʃɑp/ in IPA).
How do you use “sweatshop” in a sentence?
Here is “sweatshop” used in a sentence: “The report exposed sweatshop conditions in the overseas clothing factory.”
What part of speech is “sweatshop”?
“Sweatshop” is a noun.
