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

Beyond gender discrimination, Bend it Like Beckham delves into themes of race, social class, and cultural differences within a predominantly white male environment. —Assile Toufaily, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Reports of the Potsdam meeting prompted the biggest demonstrations against the far-right in Germany since the early 1990s, bringing together citizens from across generations and social classes. —Joseph De Weck, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024

While Marxism focuses on social classes, Bahr believes addressing the climate crisis is focused on protecting all people by providing clean air, clean water and environmental protections. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024

Carhartt is one of those unicorn brands that somehow transcends generations, social classes, and fashion trends. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2024

Inside their domed chambers, men and women, regardless of social class, commune together and unwind. —Sam Metz, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024

Her novels, which touch upon topics like friendship, romance and social class, have been translated into over 40 languages. —Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024

Still, the app plays into a polarization that’s become increasingly common in America over the last half-century, in which people increasingly marry those of their own social class, educational background, and even political party. —Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024

Founded in the 1850s, Laurel quickly became a popular burial site for Blacks across social classes, including 230 Civil War veterans, according to the cemetery project’s website. —Sanya Kamidi, Baltimore Sun, 15 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above