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
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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 See All Example Sentences for social class

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of social class was in 1794

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Cite this Entry

“Social class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20class. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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