underclass

noun

un·​der·​class ˈən-dər-ˌklas How to pronounce underclass (audio)
: the lowest social stratum usually made up of disadvantaged minority groups

Examples of underclass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Then there is the ubiquitous underclass. Mery Mogollon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026 And there was this creative underclass article that paints this brilliantly. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026 Friedman saw as ideal a perpetual underclass of non-citizens who can be exploited without offering them a path to actual dignity; who would never have a chance to earn citizenship and the representation, benefits, and sense of belonging that come with living in an equal society. Thomas Kennedy, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026 If friend groups seem ubiquitous, so does a quiet underclass of people like me, bemoaning their lack of them. Jenny Singer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underclass

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underclass was in 1918

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Cite this Entry

“Underclass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underclass. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.

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