Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

working stiff

/ˌwɝkɪŋ ˈstɪf/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.89 in modern English

Syllables: work-ing stiff
IPA: /ˌwɝkɪŋ ˈstɪf/

26

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An ordinary person who works in a non-management position, especially one who works for wages rather than a salary.

Informal

Example Sentences

"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."
"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."

Etymology

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

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌwɝkɪŋ ˈstɪf/
British English: /ˌwɜːkɪŋ ˈstɪf/

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

working stiffs (plural)

Rhymes With

if as if cliff stiff gif sniff riff whiff diff tiff biff glyph

Questions

How do you pronounce working stiff?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌwɝkɪŋ ˈstɪf/.
What does working stiff mean?: An ordinary person who works in a non-management position, especially one who works for wages rather than a salary.
Where does working stiff come from?: From working + stiff (“average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education”).

How to pronounce working stiff

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “working stiff”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌwɝkɪŋ ˈstɪf/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “working stiff”.
Repeat and practice — Say “working stiff” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.