adjective
white-collar
wyt-KOL-uhr
White-collar (adjective) means relating to professional, managerial or office work rather than manual labour, and to the people who do it. Example: “White-collar jobs are concentrated in the city centre.”
adjective
1
Relating to professional, managerial or office work rather than manual labour, and to the people who do it.
"White-collar jobs are concentrated in the city centre."
"Automation is now reaching white-collar roles as well as factory floors."
2
Describing non-violent crime committed for financial gain by people in business or government, such as fraud, embezzlement or insider dealing.
"He served two years for white-collar crime."
"The firm specialises in white-collar criminal defence."
How to use white-collar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOffice work, or the people who do it.
When to use it
Neutral; hyphenated before a noun and often after it too.
Memory tip
It is almost always an adjective — say 'white-collar workers', not 'the white-collars'.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
white-collar worker
white-collar job
white-collar crime
white-collar recession
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ jobs are concentrated in the city centre.
Etymology
From the white dress shirts traditionally worn by office and clerical staff.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for white-collar
See all rhymes for white-collar →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between white-collar and blue-collar?
White-collar work is done in offices and is typically salaried, professional or administrative. Blue-collar work is manual or skilled trade work — construction, manufacturing, driving, maintenance — and has traditionally been paid hourly. The names come from the shirts each group used to wear, not from pay level, and many blue-collar trades now out-earn office jobs.
What counts as white-collar crime?
Non-violent offences committed for financial advantage in a business or professional setting: fraud, embezzlement, bribery, money laundering, tax evasion, insider dealing and false accounting. The defining features are deception and abuse of a position of trust rather than force.
Are there other collar colours?
Yes, coined by analogy. Pink-collar covers traditionally female service and care roles, green-collar environmental work, grey-collar a mix of skilled manual and technical work, and new-collar technical jobs that need training but not a degree.
What is the meaning of white-collar?
"white-collar" (adjective) means relating to professional, managerial or office work rather than manual labour, and to the people who do it.
