frontliner

[ fruhnt-lahy-ner ]

noun

1. an essential worker whose job depends on in-person interactions and may involve some risk; a frontline worker, especially in policing, healthcare, emergency services, public transit, grocery, warehouse, and delivery work:

   The hand-printed sign outside the emergency clinic read, “Thank you, frontliners!”

Word History and Origins

Origin of frontliner¹

First recorded in 1970–75; in 1895–1900 for an earlier sense “a person in the forefront”; front line ( def ) + -er ¹( def )