low·er-class
ˌlō-ər-ˈklas 
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the lower class
2
: being an inferior or low-ranking specimen of its kind
a lower-class theater
: a social class occupying a position below the middle class and having the lowest status in a society
Synonyms
Examples of lower-class in a Sentence
Noun
a member of the lower class
Recent Examples on the Web
Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024
Like many later Carnival celebrations, Venice’s affairs were marked by the widespread use of masks, which created a temporary feeling of equality between the ruling class and the lower classes.
—Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024
The connection between these efforts slowly became clear; both ensured white power over the land while establishing a permanent lower class.
—Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2024
The proposal adds more than 100 teachers in fourth through sixth grades, Senate Education Budget Chair Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said, to help lower class sizes.
—Tcrain, al, 26 Jan. 2023
Parasite, Triangle of Sadness and The Menu are just a few recent films that have shifted the power dynamics away from the super wealthy and into the hands of those grubby lower classes, with sometimes deadly results.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
The rich are faring much better on absolute terms than the middle and lower class, by nature of being rich.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023
The old money characters value family history, and those of the lower class have difficulty moving up.
—Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 3 Sep. 2023
California New contract would raise average L.A. teacher salary to $106,000 and lower class size April 18, 2023 The district projects a positive ending balance for the next three budget years, although such projections involve a lot of educated guesswork.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2023
Noun
Keep in mind that pricing is also dynamic and will rise or drop depending on timing and the exact location of the seat, with seats in the center of the plane closer to the lower class dividers costing less.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024
Like many later Carnival celebrations, Venice’s affairs were marked by the widespread use of masks, which created a temporary feeling of equality between the ruling class and the lower classes.
—Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024
The connection between these efforts slowly became clear; both ensured white power over the land while establishing a permanent lower class.
—Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2024
The proposal adds more than 100 teachers in fourth through sixth grades, Senate Education Budget Chair Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said, to help lower class sizes.
—Tcrain, al, 26 Jan. 2023
Parasite, Triangle of Sadness and The Menu are just a few recent films that have shifted the power dynamics away from the super wealthy and into the hands of those grubby lower classes, with sometimes deadly results.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
The rich are faring much better on absolute terms than the middle and lower class, by nature of being rich.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023
The old money characters value family history, and those of the lower class have difficulty moving up.
—Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 3 Sep. 2023
California New contract would raise average L.A. teacher salary to $106,000 and lower class size April 18, 2023 The district projects a positive ending balance for the next three budget years, although such projections involve a lot of educated guesswork.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lower-class.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near lower-class
Cite this Entry
“Lower-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lower-class. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
lower-class
adjective
low·er-class
-ˈklas
: of, relating to, or being the social class ranking below the middle class
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