middle-class

1 of 2

adjective

mid·​dle-class ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈklas 

: of or relating to the middle class

middle-classness

ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈklas-nəs 

noun

middle class

2 of 2

noun

: a class occupying a position between the upper class and the lower class

especially : a fluid heterogeneous socioeconomic grouping composed principally of business and professional people, bureaucrats, and some farmers and skilled workers sharing common social characteristics and values

Examples of middle-class in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In 2025, according to an analysis by the Tax Policy Center that was done at the time of the bill’s passage, the cuts will boost the after-tax income of a typical middle-class household by $910, or less than twenty dollars a week. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024

Norman echoed Planet Organic’s Fowler’s sentiment that middle-class shoppers felt they were owed the occasional product for free thanks to their loyalty at the store. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 July 2024

Noun

That means middle class households there earn between $85,434 and $256,302 a year. —Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 22 July 2024

DeSantis takes great pride in his middle class background. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1836, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1745, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

middle class

noun

: a social class that occupies a position between the upper class and the lower class and is composed mainly of business and professional people, government officials, farmers, and skilled workers

middle-class adjective