working class 1 of 2

noun

Definition of working classnext
as in middle class
the class of people who earn money by doing usually physical work and who are not rich or powerful

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

working-class

2 of 2

adjective

as in middle-class

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 working class
Noun
In 1381, England’s working class grabbed their pitchforks and rose against tyrannical landlords, extortionate taxes, and the stranglehold of serfdom. — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026 Based on conversations with constituents from our district, this economy has gotten worse for working class families. — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The obstacles keeping working-class people out of office are built into our elections. — Nicholas Carnes, Time, 4 Nov. 2026 Donalds is just another gear in the Republican engine that is beholden to the wealthy the powerful and the corrupt — all at the expense of working-class Floridians. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for working class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for working class
  1. middle class
  2. middle-class
  3. bourgeoisie
  4. bourgeois
  5. poor
  6. plain
Noun
  • Not a society where the wealthy have everything and the poor and the middle class struggle.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Brodeur and Lowndes agree that housing affordability is also tied to supply, and that more homes available to the middle class need to be constructed.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of middle class
Adjective
  • Proposition 37, which would create a down-payment assistance program to help middle-class Californians buy a home, was approved by voters.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Capitalism is broken in the way in which it is being experienced by so many working-class Americans and middle-class Americans.
    — Spencer Kimball,Garrett Downs,Dan Mangan,Kevin Breuninger,Justin Papp, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of middle-class
Noun
  • There is possibly no better example of foods that are anti-bourgeoisie than sandwiches and hot dogs, which means Wheeler’s recent career shift makes a lot of sense.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Wilde stars with and directs a stellar trio — Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton — in an anxiety-inducing drama of a dinner party between a pair of extremely differing yet similarly bourgeoisie couples.
    — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of bourgeoisie
Adjective
  • The homes where poor people lived have invariably vanished, whether in Paris or in the provinces, whereas bourgeois homes are still standing.
    — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Doctrinaire critics accused her of being bourgeois, formalist, decadent.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of bourgeois
Adjective
  • Nearby residents have argued that the large apartment complex will be a poor fit for their neighborhood, citing concerns about traffic congestion and fire department access, among other things.
    — Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The Lions’ high-flying offense is at its best on turf, not nearly as fast on grass, and their poor red zone defense has been an issue.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The best, the least mediocre, unfortunately, is Tadao Ando, the better of whose work derives from Kahn, the plain modular rectangles made of concrete framed by verticals and, less clear even in Kahn, the geometric cuts and sections.
    — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Here is a plain-language guide to what the tiny beads do, where the practice came from and what the research shows.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of plain

Browse Nearby Words

working (at or on)
working class
working-class
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Working class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/working%20class. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wabi-sabi

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All