class

1 one of the segments of society into which people are grouped <a politician who appeals to people of every class> Synonyms caste, estate, folk, gentry, order, stratum Related Words bracket, echelon, grade, layer, level, tier; place, position, rank, standing, status; food chain, grouping, hierarchy, stratification; clan, family, fraternity, people, race, tribe; subcaste

2 one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic <a new class of wireless devices that could be used for Internet access as well as personal communication> Synonyms bracket, category, classification, division, family, genus, grade, group, kind, league, order, rank(s), rubric, set, species, tier, type Related Words description, feather, ilk, kidney, like, manner, nature, sort; branch, section, speciality, specialty, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety; breed, race; generation; heading, label, title

3 a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common <only a particular class of burglar would do that> Synonyms breed, sort, description, feather, genre, ilk, kidney, kind, like, manner, nature, order, species, strain, stripe, type, varietyRelated Words model; sample, specimen; bracket, bunch, category, division, family, grade, group, grouping, lot, persuasion, rank(s), set, suite

4 a series of lectures on a subject <took a class on modern art> Synonyms courseRelated Words elective, refresher; clinic, institute, seminar, survey course; minicourse; core, curriculum

5 degree of excellence <only horses of great class are allowed to enter the Kentucky Derby> Synonyms caliber (or calibre), quality, grade, rateRelated Words hallmark; mark; footing, place, position, rank, standing, stature, status; benchmark, criterion, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick

6 dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style <an old mansion with tremendous class that puts today's gaudy behemoths to shame> Synonyms elegance, classiness, courtliness, elegancy, fineness, grace, gracefulness, handsomeness, majesty, refinement, statelinessRelated Words augustness, brilliance, gloriousness, glory, grandeur, grandness, lavishness, luxuriance, luxuriousness, luxury, magnificence, nobility, nobleness, opulence, ornateness, plushiness, plushness, resplendence, resplendency, richness, splendor, sumptuousness; artfulness, chic, polish, sophistication, taste, tastefulness; choiceness, classicism, dignity, exquisiteness, restraint, simplicity; affectedness, grandiosity, ostentation, ostentatiousness, pretentiousness, showinessNear Antonyms coarseness, crudeness, flamboyance, flashiness, garishness, gaudiness, glitz, grotesqueness, grotesquerie (also grotesquery), kitsch, tastelessness, tawdriness, vulgarityAntonyms gracelessness, inelegance

7 high position within society <the woman exudes an aura of class and breeding> Synonyms rank, dignity, fashion, quality, standing, stateRelated Words gentility, gentleness, nobility, nobleness; grandness, highness, loftiness; distinction, dominance, precedence, preeminence, primacy, superiority; caste, station, status; prefermentNear Antonyms debasement, degradation; subordinateness, subordination; baseness, commonness, inferiority, lowliness, lowness