lower-class

adjective low·er-class \ ˌlō-ər-ˈklas \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

Definition of lower-class

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

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See lower-class defined for kids

First Known Use of lower-class

1812

lower-class Synonyms

lower class

noun

Definition of lower class

: a social class occupying a position below the middle class and having the lowest status in a society

See lower class defined for English-language learners

Examples of lower class in a Sentence

a member of the lower class

Recent Examples of lower class from the Web

Last season, Tebow played for low Class A Columbia (S.C.) and high-A Port St. Lucie (Fla.), batting .226 and hitting eight home runs in 430 at-bats.

— usa today sports, USA TODAY, "Mets send Tim Tebow to minor league camp," 13 Mar. 2018
Increase in home values, often at the expense of the lower classes.

— carol motsinger, Cincinnati.com, "The middle class is getting left behind. And it's happening in Ohio at a higher rate than other states.," 1 Mar. 2018
Mejia, 22, gained renown for a 50-game hitting streak in low Class A in 2016 and by last season made his way to Cleveland for a brief audition.

— gabe lacques, USA TODAY, "MLB's 100 Names You Need to Know for 2018," 7 Feb. 2018
In the lower classes on Thursday, Paducah (1A), Junction (2A) and Mount Vernon (3A) all repeated as champions for the third consecutive year.

— darren lauber, star-telegram, "Cheer up: UIL State Spirit Championships continues through Saturday | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 12 Jan. 2018
Both Jackson and Warren worked their way from the lower class to attain their respective political offices.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Is Elizabeth Warren the Real Jacksonian on Capitol Hill?," 23 Mar. 2017
According to a Washington Post article by Rama Lakshmi, this reluctance is tied to India’s rigid caste system, in which historically the lowest classes were tasked with waste removal.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Indian Court Grants Woman Divorce Over Husband’s Refusal to Install a Household Toilet," 22 Aug. 2017
Elie Halévy, an influential early 20th-century French historian, believed that Methodism helped 18th-century England avoid a revolution of the sort that later befell France by educating the lower classes and bringing about social reform.

— The Economist, "The stand," 4 Nov. 2017
As her story unravels, the doctor begins to see the challenges Grace has faced as a vulnerable woman of the lower class, and in turn the oppressive fate suffered by many women in the mid-19th century.

— lorraine ali, latimes.com, "Netflix brings Margaret Atwood back to the small screen with engrossing 'Alias Grace'," 2 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lower class.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.