1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

upper-class 1 of 2

adjective

ˌə-pər-ˈklas How to pronounce upper-class (audio)
Definition of upper-classnext
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station upper-class boys who had an entrenched sense of entitlement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

upper class

2 of 2

noun

as in aristocracy
the highest class in a society a school founded to educate the children of the upper class

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of upper-class
Adjective
Columbia University researchers found in a 2005 study that children from upper-class families can exhibit elevated likelihoods of substance use, anxiety, and depression in part thanks to excessive pressures to achieve and isolation from parents. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 Offering an incredibly detailed snapshot of upper-class life in Istanbul from the 1970s onwards, Pamuk has successfully created one of the most moving exhibitions to date—a real highlight of the city. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026
Noun
The grave goods suggest the deceased were members of society's upper class. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 The discovery was made among human bones at a burial site that researchers believe was used for members of the society’s upper classes. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for upper-class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper-class
  1. aristocratic
  2. aristocracy
  3. nobility
  4. upper crust
  5. gentry
Adjective
  • Beatrice’s children do have aristocratic titles, even though Eugenie’s don’t.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 Sep. 2026
  • His family has not endured near the top of the British aristocratic food chain by being critical of the royal household, but Diana's story has changed that.
    — Mark Phillips, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of aristocratic
Noun
  • The ‘Baronessa’ was Venetian aristocracy and lived in a vast rococo palace with Guardis and Canalettos in the drawing room.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Born in 1901, Cartland was a fixture of British high society, rubbing shoulders with press barons, politicians, the aristocracy and the Royal Family, as step-grandmother to Princess Diana.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of aristocracy
Noun
  • There’s a nobility in providing some fan service to help immerse Oasis devotees who could not afford the outrageous ticket prices to attend the tour.
    — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Working as a portraitist, she was commissioned by university scholars and local nobility in Bologna, the Italian city where she was born.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nobility
Noun
  • Even outside of Law’s upper crust of prospects, the Dodgers have intriguing pieces such as right-hander Christian Zazueta who would fill in credibly as headliners for a trade.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • She’s being raised in upper crust Gilead society, tutored in a private girls’ school led by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) for a potential prosperous husband, specifically one in the upper ranks of the military.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 27 May 2026
Definition of upper crust
Noun
  • Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of gentry

Browse Nearby Words

upper
upper-class
upper class
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upper-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper-class. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tactile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All