day laborer

noun

: one who works for daily wages especially as an unskilled laborer

Examples of day laborer in a Sentence

They hire day laborers to pick the apples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of those locations, Kennedy Park, is where, in 2006, a group of day laborers were lured into a van by a local police officer posing as a construction worker. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 Instead of operations aimed at specific individuals, federal agents increasingly conducted sweeps outside of Home Depot storefronts — where day laborers have long gathered to be hired for work. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The ruling was intended to stop agents from targeting Home Depots and car washes and detaining brown-skinned, Spanish-speaking day laborers. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 The Los Angeles region was rocked last year by sprawling immigration raids targeting day laborers and factory workers. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for day laborer

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of day laborer was in 1528

Browse Nearby Words

day labor
day laborer
dayless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Day laborer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20laborer. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

day laborer

noun
: one who works by the day or for daily wages especially as an unskilled laborer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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