upper-class 1 of 2

adjective

ˌə-pər-ˈklas How to pronounce upper-class (audio)
Definition of upper-classnext
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station upper-class boys who had an entrenched sense of entitlement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

upper class

2 of 2

noun

as in aristocracy
the highest class in a society a school founded to educate the children of the upper 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 upper-class
Adjective
The next wave of Vietnamese wealth Vietnam’s economic growth has led to a growing middle- and upper-class. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 16 June 2026 Lady Caroline Blackwood drew on her own upper-class, Anglo-Irish upbringing for this autobiographical fiction about the multigenerational destruction of women by their own families, and the novel has the unshakeable, freaky urgency of truth. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 10 June 2026
Noun
And the formal attire of the upper class continues to define the strict dress code today. — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 June 2026 In the nineteenth century, upper class American women who had leisure time and literacy became really into keeping floral calendars to note when wildflowers bloomed. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for upper-class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper-class
  1. aristocratic
  2. aristocracy
  3. nobility
  4. upper crust
  5. gentry
Adjective
  • As models walked out into the museum gardens with an air of aristocratic tradition, the show became exquisite, almost cinematic.
    — Laia Farran Graves, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • The Sunday Times has reported claims about Farage’s financial relationship with George Cottrell, an aristocratic, crypto-gambling entrepreneur and on-off aide to the Reform UK leader.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of aristocratic
Noun
  • Orangeries, once a status symbol for European aristocracy, are a glamorous accoutrement in large town or country houses.
    — Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • At last, Jones also thought, there was a chance to spotlight the dynamic between North Wales‘ working-class community and its aristocracy on the big screen, a corner of Britain’s social history that has long been sidelined.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Definition of aristocracy
Noun
  • Gustaf Lagerbielke, a 26-year-old center back, comes from a line of nobility, particularly Counts, in his home country.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • This piece of jewelry, worn by Princess Elisabeth, was a wedding gift from the Belgian nobility to Mathilde on the occasion of her wedding in 1999.
    — Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 24 June 2026
Definition of nobility
Noun
  • She’s being raised in upper crust Gilead society, tutored in a private girls’ school led by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) for a potential prosperous husband, specifically one in the upper ranks of the military.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 27 May 2026
  • To give the illusion of a real club for California’s upper crust, several celebrities make cameos as club guests, including Michael Phelps, Suni Lee, and Finneas O’Connell, all of whom play snobbish parodies of themselves.
    — Sam Reed, Glamour, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of upper crust
Noun
  • Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of gentry

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upper-class
upper class
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Cite this Entry

“Upper-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper-class. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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