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

Every decade, another social class defected from the revolutionary coalition. —Eric Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2025

But the gathering efforts to win their release have also raised questions about the role that fame and social class can play in determining who among the thousands of people serving life sentences in California deserves a second chance. —Tim Arango, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Though initially smooth, by the third century A.D. when the Gladiator movies take place, this assimilation gave way to a breakdown of social class barriers. —Jeffrey E. Schulman / Made By History, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024

The rules allow investigators of every social class and how to bring them together for a game of supernatural mystery. —Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 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