middle-class

1 of 2

adjective

mid·​dle-class ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈklas 

: of or relating to the middle class

especially : characterized by a high material standard of living, sexual morality, and respect for property

a typical middle-class family

traditional middle-class values

middle-classness

ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈklas-nəs 

noun

middle class

2 of 2

noun

: a class occupying a position between the upper class and the lower class

especially : a fluid heterogeneous socioeconomic grouping composed principally of business and professional people, bureaucrats, and some farmers and skilled workers sharing common social characteristics and values

Examples of middle-class in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Or someone who grew up middle-income in Miami Beach’s North Beach in the early 2000s, on average, earned $8,000 less at the age of 35 than a middle-class child who grew up a few blocks north in Surfside. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025

Manoj Bajpayee reprises his role as Srikant Tiwari, the middle-class family man who secretly works as an intelligence officer. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025

Noun

For instance, the average worker in their 30s who grew up middle class in Brownsville statistically earns $22,000 less than the same person raised a block or two away in Hialeah. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025

This is significant because federal employment was a reliable entryway to the American middle class for many during the 20th century. —Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1836, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1745, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for middle-class

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

Kids Definition

middle class

noun

: a social class that occupies a position between the upper class and the lower class and is composed mainly of business and professional people, government officials, farmers, and skilled workers

middle-class adjective