upper crust

noun

: the highest social class or group
especially : the highest circle of the upper class
upper-crust adjective

Examples of upper crust in a Sentence

the conference was a gathering of the upper crust of the computer programming industry a specialty clothing store for the upper crust
Recent Examples on the Web In focusing on the society kerfuffle between Truman Capote and some of the most powerful women of New York’s upper crust, Baitz has a clash that’s entirely inconsequential and yet cataclysmic within its milieu. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2024 Along the way, Todd reconnects with Mrs. Lovett (Tony award winner Annaleigh Ashford), a zany pie shop owner, and the pair strike up a devious deal to murder London's upper crust and bake them into mouthwatering meat pies for the lower-class to feast upon. Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2023 More specifically, that of a Black woman in New York City’s upper crust, a rare closet experience on TV. Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Aug. 2023 According to the same Guardian story from 2005, fancy dress parties with imperialist themes were popular with the British upper crust at the time, and Nazi costumes were commonplace. Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2023 For current red carpet events, Minaj often graces red carpets with upper crust atelier pieces by Ricardo Tisci, Alexandre Vauthier Couture, Marc Jacobs, Off-White and more. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Aug. 2023 At luncheons at the swanky Hotel Astor in New York, attended by the city’s upper crust, experts debated topics like the Russian Revolution and Wilson’s Fourteen Points. Andrew Lanham, The New Republic, 5 Apr. 2023 Many members of Britain's upper crust are expected to be in attendance at King Charles III's coronation this weekend, and among them is Sarah Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who has come to be colloquially known as just Rose Hanbury. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 May 2023 Benno grew up among Manhattan's upper crust, attending St. Bernard’s School on the Upper East Side, then Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. Clay Risen, New York Times, 11 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'upper crust.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of upper crust was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near upper crust

Cite this Entry

“Upper crust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upper%20crust. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

upper crust

noun
: the highest social class or group
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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