real wages

[ ree-uhl, reel ]

plural noun

, Economics.

1. wages estimated not in money but in purchasing power.

real wages

plural noun

1. See money wages
   economics wages evaluated with reference to their purchasing power rather than to the money actually paid Compare money wages

real wages

1. Wages adjusted for the prevailing level of consumer prices. ( See also constant dollars .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of real wages¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

For the bottom 10 percent, from 1979 to 2013, real wages declined by 0.2 percent.

From The Daily Beast

All the macro statistics bear that out (percentage of people employed, real wages, percentage of GDP going to labor, etc.).

From The Daily Beast

Inflation in the high-growth economies will change the relative real wages between the counties the same way a devaluation can.

From The Daily Beast

Economists long ago discovered the necessity of distinguishing between money wages and real wages.

From Project Gutenberg

Then she would be free to go or stay, work for "real wages" for this mistress, or engage herself to another.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, we shall see that it is requisite to distinguish between money wages and real wages.

From Project Gutenberg

In order to establish any rational basis, the relation must be between real wages or standard of living and efficiency.

From Project Gutenberg

Two centimes daily are, however, deducted for messing, so that the real wages are five centimes per diem.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• net income