Definition

1. Noun:
   • A laborer who works by the day; for daily wages: A "day laborer" is a worker who is hired and paid for one day's work at a time, typically for manual or unskilled jobs, without a long-term employment contract.

Usage

• The term is used to describe temporary, often casual, employment arrangements.
• It typically refers to work in construction, agriculture, landscaping, or other manual labor sectors.
• It implies a lack of job security or benefits associated with permanent employment.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The contractor hired several day laborers to help with the demolition project.
  • Many day laborers gather at specific locations in the city each morning, hoping to find work for the day.

Advanced Usage

• "Day labor" (noun): The system or practice of hiring workers on a daily basis.
  • The construction industry often relies on day labor to manage fluctuating workloads.

Variants and Related Words

• Day labourer (noun): An alternative spelling, chiefly used in British English.
• Day worker (noun): A near-synonym, often used interchangeably with "day laborer."

Synonyms

• Casual laborer: A worker employed irregularly or for a short period.
• Temporary worker: A worker employed for a limited time.
• Hireling (often derogatory): A person hired to perform a service, especially of a menial or routine nature.

Related Phrases

• To hire day labor: To employ workers on a daily basis.
  • The farm hires day labor during the harvest season.

Notes on Meaning

• The term often carries connotations of economic precarity and informal work arrangements.
• It is distinct from "contract labor," which may involve a longer-term agreement for a specific project.

Noun

1. a laborer who works by the day; for daily wages