classism

noun

class·​ism ˈkla-ˌsi-zəm 

1

: a belief that a person's social or economic station in society determines their value in that society

[Michael] Moore helped create the era of snark, but he also bore a lot of it, and much of the criticism of him carries a whiff of classism.

—Jessica Pressler

also : behavior that reflects this belief : prejudice or discrimination based on class

… the show explores classism and white privilege by comparing how school administrators treat him, as a rich white boy from a family with Ivy League pedigree, versus how they treat Latina and working-class Moe.

—Roxana Hadadi

2

: the systemic oppression of the lower class and middle class to the advantage of the upper class

Further, this is one way to dismantle the power difference society's privileges grant us through such institutions as racism or classism …

—Sarah Lucia Hoagland

classist

ˈkla-sist 

adjective

Examples of classism in a Sentence

a society plagued by racism and classism

Recent Examples on the Web

Eight-year-old maid Toha goes to great lengths to ensure that her best friend Nelly, the daughter of her wealthy employer, has a successful birthday party in this poignant debut feature exploring classism in modern-day Cairo. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025

Eight-year-old maid Toha goes to great lengths to ensure that her best friend Nelly, the daughter of her wealthy employer, has a successful birthday party in this poignant debut feature exploring classism in modern-day Cairo. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 16 Apr. 2025

The classism that endures to this day in the British acting world rears its ugly head here, though Philip’s effective gentrification of Richie’s voice is depicted as the making of a legend. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025

In his new film, Mickey 17, the director brings his preoccupation with classism to outer space. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1