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

What will Beef season 2 be about? Road rage will not be at the center of the second season, which will this time around follow dual couples and be a possible indictment on differing social classes. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 31 Jan. 2025

The city is divided into three zones that separate social classes, with checkpoints regulating movement between them. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025

Americans of all social classes, genders, and races found inspiration in the democratic message of Lafayette’s tour. —Elizabeth M. Reese / Made By History, TIME, 26 Nov. 2024

Curation at the museum typically focuses on storytelling and contextualization, bringing audiences into the lives of the various social classes of ancient Egyptian civilization. —Costa Beavin Pappas, ARTnews.com, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social class

• candlemas
• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras