social class

noun

plural social classes

: a group of people sharing the same social or socioeconomic status : class sense 2a

The well-to-do WTUL [=Women's Trade Union League] volunteers who joined striking New York City shirtwaist workers in 1909 had used their elegant attire to convey the fact that no woman, whatever her social class, could ignore the hardships endured by clothing workers in America.

—Ellen Cain

Her research explores the use and abuse of diversity and inclusion policy as a form of reputation management, and how social class influences access to and career progression within 'elite' occupations.

—Queen Mary University of London

The eight women denied being witches, but Mary was believed. She was 18, pretty, educated and from a higher social class.

—Martina Devlin

Examples of social class in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The novel takes place at weddings, funerals and graduations and explores rifts that occur inside families and between social classes. —Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 17 Apr. 2024

What tattoos were apparently often used for in ancient Mesopotamia was marking enslaved people (and, in Egypt, as decorations for women of all social classes). —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 15 Sep. 2023

By contrast, Lind—a prolific writer and a co-founder of the think tank New America—finds his answers in a single factor: social class. —Amy Chua, Foreign Affairs, 1 June 2020

Featuring four central characters — Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton), Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson), Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) and Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) — the dramatic series examined girl-next-door crushes and social class clashes, all portrayed against a sunny, California-cool backdrop. —Erica Marrison, Peoplemag, 9 June 2024

More accessible and affordable medical care can improve people's quality of life and decrease inequality across social classes. —Devika Rao, theweek, 5 Apr. 2024

In the past few years, members of nearly every social class have taken to the streets all over the country to protest against the regime. —Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2021

Clubs like the New York Athletic Club, founded in 1866, offered athletic competition among a social class that shared values, customs, and lifestyles. —Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2024

The conflict between the young and the old is explored in the context of social class. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above