middle-class 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of middle-classnext
as in poor
belonging to the class of people of middle social or economic rank She grew up in a middle-class neighborhood, as did most of her classmates.

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middle class

2 of 2

noun

as in working class

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of middle-class
Adjective
With the 25th anniversary of the war’s start, my mind turns to Joshua Webster — 21 years old at the time, a 6-foot-4 Californian from a middle-class Catholic family. — Martha Raddatz, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026 Said was born into a middle-class family in Jerusalem, Palestine, in 1935. — Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
But the middle class is suffering now, too, in all those areas. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 These figures will only grow as ASEAN’s middle class comes into its own. — Jon M. Huntsman, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for middle-class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for middle-class
  1. poor
  2. working class
  3. bourgeois
  4. bourgeoisie
  5. simple
  6. working-class
Adjective
  • Europe is expected to have a particularly poor corn harvest and needs larger imports just as its demand for feed remains high.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Reese is known as a poor shooter, and is often mocked for missing easy shots in games.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of poor
Noun
  • The film is an ensemble piece, following two married couples — one working class, the other wealthy — who cross paths during the production of a documentary.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Matsui has leaned on her experience and cited a record of delivering resources to the region, while Vang has called for new leadership and emphasized working class families.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of working class
Adjective
  • Its formless body accommodated slouching, lounging or lying down, selling freedom from both conventional posture and the bourgeois living room.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The group wanted to start fresh further from the bourgeois action, and in 2000 Middleton and Lakofski found a place in the Lower East Side, signed a contract — and returned home to discover that Walton had killed himself.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of bourgeois
Noun
  • When the arcade first opened, Europe was navigating industrialization, the rise of the urban bourgeoisie, and the emergence of modern ready-to-wear fashion.
    — Eleonora Giordani, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The state discovered that reforms had to be beneficial to all, and so the political mission had to be implementing education and acculturation as a means of solidifying the nascent bourgeoisie.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of bourgeoisie
Adjective
  • His lyrics, his hooks, his unmistakable voice, his optimism, his belief in the power of a simple song to make people feel good.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Some people want to change the world, and others want to operate in simple harmony with it and savor life.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • This is despite the City of London’s socio-economic diversity taskforce setting a target for half of senior leaders to come from working-class or non-professional backgrounds by 2030.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Many mid- and late-career working-class comics who would normally build the bridge to younger generations are struggling to make a living.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of working-class

Browse Nearby Words

middle-agers
middle-class
middle class
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Cite this Entry

“Middle-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/middle-class. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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