middle-class

1 of 2

adjective

mid·​dle-class ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈklas 

: of or relating to the middle class

especially : characterized by a high material standard of living, sexual morality, and respect for property

a typical middle-class family

traditional middle-class values

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

According to SmartAsset research, the middle-class income in Oklahoma ranges from $44,099 to $132,296, and the state's median household income is $66,148. —Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 1 Apr. 2026

For instance, students from the top 1% comprise 16% of students at Ivy-plus colleges (the Ivies plus the University of Chicago, Duke, Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and are more than twice as likely to attend compared with middle-class students with the same SAT/ACT scores. —David Blobaum, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026

Noun

That's just what the VA loan is supposed to be — a life-changing benefit to give veterans a leg up into the middle class and homeownership. —Quil Lawrence, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026

What income is required to be considered middle class in Oklahoma? —Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1836, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1745, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for middle-class

• candlemas
• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras

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