workingwoman
C2Formal, slightly dated, or journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
A woman who works for a wage or salary, especially one engaged in manual or non-executive work.
A woman who is employed or who engages actively in a profession, trade, or other form of paid labour; sometimes used to distinguish from a woman of leisure or a housewife not employed outside the home.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term historically carries connotations of blue-collar or clerical labour. It can be seen as a gendered counterpart to 'working man' and is often used in sociological, historical, or political contexts discussing labour, gender roles, and class.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar in both varieties, though it is generally less common than the gender-neutral 'worker' or 'employee'. In American English, it might appear more frequently in historical or feminist discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can sound somewhat old-fashioned or deliberately sociological. It may imply a focus on the intersection of gender and economic class.
Frequency
Low frequency in contemporary casual speech. More likely found in written analyses, historical texts, or formal reports.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[workingwoman] + [verb: struggles/earns/votes][adjective] + [workingwoman]the [workingwoman] of [noun phrase: the 1950s/the nation]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A workingwoman's dollar”
- “From workingwoman to CEO”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare in modern corporate parlance; 'female workforce' or 'women in the workplace' is preferred.
Academic
Used in sociological, historical, gender studies, and economic papers to specify gender within the labour force.
Everyday
Very uncommon in casual conversation; 'woman who works' or simply 'she works' is typical.
Technical
Might appear in labour force statistics or historical demographic analyses when data is disaggregated by sex.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The report highlighted the average commute time for the British workingwoman.
- As a workingwoman, she valued the council's new childcare scheme.
American English
- The tax reform aimed to benefit the average American workingwoman.
- She was a workingwoman who balanced her job at the plant with night classes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is a workingwoman. She has a job in a shop.
- My mother was a workingwoman, so I learned to be independent from a young age.
- The political campaign specifically targeted policies that would support the workingwoman, such as extended maternity leave and flexible hours.
- The sociological study traced the evolving identity of the workingwoman from the industrial revolution to the post-war era, analysing shifts in economic agency and domestic roles.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WOMAN at WORK, combining the two words into a compound noun: working + woman.
Conceptual Metaphor
LABOUR IS A BURDEN / CONTRIBUTION: The 'workingwoman' carries the weight of employment and domestic responsibilities.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not directly calque as 'работающая женщина' in formal contexts where 'работница' (female worker) or 'трудящаяся женщина' exists. 'Работающая женщина' is a literal translation but can sound awkward or overly descriptive in Russian.
- Avoid associating it only with physical labour; it can cover any paid employment.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a workingwoman mother' – correct: 'a working mother').
- Misspelling as two separate words ('working woman') when used as a specific compound noun, though the open form is also acceptable.
- Assuming it is a modern, common term; it is largely dated or specialist.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'workingwoman' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively uncommon in everyday speech. Gender-neutral terms like 'worker' or 'employee' are preferred, or more specific terms like 'professional woman'. It is mostly used in historical, sociological, or formal contexts.
'Workingwoman' typically refers to any woman engaged in paid work, often with a focus on manual, clerical, or non-executive roles and her economic necessity. 'Career woman' implies a stronger focus on a professional, long-term trajectory, ambition, and often a white-collar or managerial position.
Yes, 'working woman' (open compound) is an acceptable and common variant. The closed compound 'workingwoman' tends to be used when the term is treated as a single lexical unit, often in formal or historical contexts.
Yes, the standard plural is 'workingwomen' (e.g., 'the rights of workingwomen').