social class

noun

plural social classes
: a group of people sharing the same social or socioeconomic status : class sense 2a
The well-to-do WTUL [=Women's Trade Union League] volunteers who joined striking New York City shirtwaist workers in 1909 had used their elegant attire to convey the fact that no woman, whatever her social class, could ignore the hardships endured by clothing workers in America.Ellen Cain
Her research explores the use and abuse of diversity and inclusion policy as a form of reputation management, and how social class influences access to and career progression within 'elite' occupations.Queen Mary University of London
The eight women denied being witches, but Mary was believed. She was 18, pretty, educated and from a higher social class.Martina Devlin

Examples of social class in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Italy, even clientele’s social class has transitioned. John Hopewell, Variety, 26 Sep. 2024 His next book, School of Woke, compared the oppressed–oppressor binary supposedly taught in American schools with the Cultural Revolution’s Black and Red categories of disfavored and favored social classes. Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 By highlighting the divide between different social classes and religions, the film reveals how the chance to heal from trauma varies — some can recover, while others are left to cope day by day. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Sep. 2024 In 1932: Mahatma Gandhi initiated a six-day hunger strike to protest the stratification of India’s social classes. The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for social class 

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social class was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near social class

Cite this Entry

“Social class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20class. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!