social class

noun

plural social classes

: a group of people sharing the same social or socioeconomic status : class sense 2a

The well-to-do WTUL [=Women's Trade Union League] volunteers who joined striking New York City shirtwaist workers in 1909 had used their elegant attire to convey the fact that no woman, whatever her social class, could ignore the hardships endured by clothing workers in America.

—Ellen Cain

Her research explores the use and abuse of diversity and inclusion policy as a form of reputation management, and how social class influences access to and career progression within 'elite' occupations.

—Queen Mary University of London

The eight women denied being witches, but Mary was believed. She was 18, pretty, educated and from a higher social class.

—Martina Devlin

Examples of social class in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mix of social classes was striking, too. —Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2025

Violence against women is a phenomenon that is much bigger and goes across all cultural and social classes. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025

In Korea, the spoon is a potent symbol of social class. —Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025

Eventually, the modern steakhouse was born in Gotham, with higher-quality cuts than a chophouse and diners of the same elevated social class as the Beefsteak attendees. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for social class

• candlemas
• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras