bourgeoisie

noun

bour·​geoi·​sie ˌbu̇(r)zh-ˌwä-ˈzē 

1

: middle class

members of the bourgeoisie

also, plural in construction : members of the middle class

how the bourgeoisie are represented in the novel

2

: a class or group of people with social behavior and political views held to be influenced by private-property interest : a social order dominated by capitalists or bourgeois (see bourgeois entry 2 sense 2)

Examples of bourgeoisie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even before the Atlantic City Boardwalk became the iconic scene of the Roaring ‘20s New Jersey bourgeoisie, the Jersey Shore was already increasingly a vacation spot for the wealthy. —Andrew Depietro, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Then a hotelier hung Nymphs and Satyr in a public bar, shaking up NYC's bourgeoisie. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

In the late 1830s and ’40s, in a dramatic shift, the Cologne bourgeoisie had formed a partnership with the Jews. —John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024

Locals tacked disgruntled but clever verses onto the busts, writing satires that bemoaned the pope, the city’s bourgeoisie and the corrupt nature of those who held power. —Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from bourgeois

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bourgeoisie

• petite bourgeoisie
• petty bourgeoisie
• the bourgeoisie
• the petite bourgeoisie

Kids Definition

bourgeoisie

noun

bour·​geoi·​sie ˌbu̇rzh-ˌwä-ˈzē 

: the middle class of society