middle-class

1 of 2

adjective

mid·​dle-class ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈklas 

: of or relating to the middle class

middle-classness

ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈklas-nəs 

noun

middle class

2 of 2

noun

: a class occupying a position between the upper class and the lower class

especially : a fluid heterogeneous socioeconomic grouping composed principally of business and professional people, bureaucrats, and some farmers and skilled workers sharing common social characteristics and values

Examples of middle-class in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In 2012, Idaho’s middle-class income range was about $31,343 to nearly $94,030. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2024

Jared Bernstein noted that for the past 14 months, middle-class wage growth has been beating inflation, and predicted that people would feel better as wages caught up to higher price levels. —Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 30 May 2024

Noun

Anjali and Vivian faced a brutal fact: For young strivers of the American upper middle class, credentials and a can-do attitude are no longer sufficient for entry into the top tiers of the U.S. News and World Report college rankings. —Joseph Bernstein Robert Petkoff Krish Seenivasan Devin Murphy, New York Times, 3 June 2024

Mississippi has the lowest household income needed to be middle class at $35,323. —Patrick McCreless, Miami Herald, 22 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1836, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1745, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

middle class

noun

: a social class that occupies a position between the upper class and the lower class and is composed mainly of business and professional people, government officials, farmers, and skilled workers

middle-class adjective