Dictionary

working stiff en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌwɝkɪŋ ˈstɪf/ (General-American)
• /ˌwɜːkɪŋ ˈstɪf/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From working + stiff (“average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education”).

Meanings

1. (informal) An ordinary person who works in a non-management position, especially one who works for wages rather than a salary.
   • Now he spends his time off from work hanging out with his diminutive best friend Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), the casual-dress princess hero of racing game Sugar Rush. Ralph enjoys life as a working stiff, though Vanellope is growing bored with her racing-world domination. 2018 November 14, Jesse Hassenger, “Disney Goes Viral with an Ambitious, Overstuffed Wreck-It Ralph Sequel”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 21 Nov 2019:
   • The balance sheets of the middle class have improved as well. Good. But if working stiffs have come out OK, the richest have consolidated their gains. 2023 May 28, Robert Armstrong, “The world wobbles; the luxury industry strides on”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 21:

Forms