Social Class Terminology

noun A person belonging to the aristocracy, a social class considered superior or elite due to their rank, wealth, or status.

• The aristocrat was known for his impeccable manners and refined taste.
• The aristocrat threw a lavish party at his mansion last night.
• That aristocrat is always flaunting his wealth and status.
• She carried herself with the grace and poise of an aristocrat.

noun refers to a group of individuals in society who are not considered to be part of the elite or upper class

• The government should prioritize policies that benefit the common people.
• Common people like us just want to live a comfortable life.
• Hey, the common folk are just trying to make ends meet.
• In the grand scheme of things, the common people hold the power.

• The gentry of the town were known for their elegant manners and refined tastes.
• The gentry always throw the best parties in town.
• The gentry are the fancy folks who live in the big houses on the hill.
• In the world of finance, the gentry are the elite investors who control the markets.

noun a person who lives in a rural area, often considered to be unsophisticated or provincial

• The politician was criticized for using derogatory language to refer to rural residents as hicks.
• I heard that new guy is a real hick, always wearing overalls and chewing on a piece of straw.
• Don't be such a hick, open your mind to new experiences.
• Her outdated fashion sense made her seem like a hick in comparison to her stylish peers.

noun a woman of good social position or one who is refined and well-mannered

• The lady was elegantly dressed in a gown and pearls.
• That lady over there is always so friendly and helpful.
• Check out that cool lady with the funky hairdo!
• She was a true lady, always handling situations with grace and poise.

noun a social class that does not need to work for a living and can afford to engage in leisure activities

• The leisure class enjoys spending their time engaging in cultural activities and leisurely pursuits.
• The rich folks in the leisure class have all the time in the world to relax and have fun.
• The leisure class is living the high life, just chilling and enjoying themselves.
• In the social hierarchy, the leisure class sits comfortably at the top, free from the burdens of everyday life.

noun a class of people considered to be of low social rank or status

adjective relating to or characteristic of a low social rank or status

• The neighborhood was known for its high concentration of low class residents.
• She didn't want to be seen as low class so she always dressed up for parties.
• Some people think shopping at discount stores is low class.
• His behavior at the party was so low class, he embarrassed everyone around him.

noun a social class comprising those who do manual or unskilled work

adjective of or relating to the lower social classes

• The government implemented policies to support the lower class in accessing healthcare services.
• Many people in the lower class struggle to make ends meet.
• It's tough for folks in the lower class to catch a break.
• The lower class is often seen as the backbone of society, despite facing numerous challenges.

noun a social class intermediate between the upper class and the lower class, usually consisting of professionals, business owners, and skilled workers

• The government's policies aim to support and empower the middle class.
• Many people in the middle class are feeling the squeeze of rising living costs.
• The middle class is all about that work hard, play hard mentality.
• In the economic ladder, the middle class serves as the crucial bridge between the rich and the poor.

noun an instance of a mismatched or unsuccessful alliance

• The marriage was considered a misalliance due to the significant age difference between the couple.
• Their relationship was a total misalliance from the start.
• I heard their engagement was a total misalliance, dude.
• The partnership between the two companies proved to be a misalliance, leading to financial losses for both parties.

noun the quality or state of being noble in character, mind, birth, or rank

• The nobility of the country gathered for the royal ball.
• The nobility sure knows how to throw a fancy party.
• The nobility are living the high life, aren't they?
• Her nobility of spirit shines through in everything she does.

noun a member of the common people in ancient Rome

adjective of or relating to the common people in ancient Rome; common or vulgar

• The plebeian class in ancient Rome consisted of common citizens with no noble status.
• The plebeian crowd at the concert was rowdy and enthusiastic.
• Don't hang out with those plebeians, they have no taste in music.
• His taste in art is so plebeian, he only likes mass-produced prints.

adjective a person who owns property, especially a lot of property

• The propertied class in society often has more influence and power.
• The rich folks who own a lot of property are called the propertied.
• The propertied people always seem to get their way because of their money.
• In the world of business, knowledge is a form of currency that can make you propertied.

noun A person who has a lot of money or valuable possessions

adjective Describing someone who has a lot of money or valuable possessions

• The rich man donated a large sum of money to the charity.
• That rich man drives a fancy sports car.
• The rich dude is living the high life.
• The rich man's heart was as cold as ice.

noun people regarded as worthless or disreputable

• The exclusive club had a strict dress code to keep out the riffraff.
• I don't want to hang out at that bar, it's always full of riffraff.
• Let's find a new spot to chill, this place is crawling with riffraff.
• She felt like she didn't belong among the riffraff of society.

noun a type or kind of something

adjective having the desired qualities or characteristics

• It is important to ensure that we are working with the right sort of data for this analysis.
• We need to make sure we have the right sort of snacks for the road trip.
• I don't think he's the right sort of guy for you.
• She knew she had found the right sort of peace when she could finally relax in her own company.

noun a group of people in a society who hold power and authority over others, typically based on wealth, social status, or political influence

• The ruling class in ancient Rome consisted of wealthy patricians who held political power.
• The ruling class always gets the best seats at the theater.
• Those rich snobs are part of the ruling class.
• In the world of fashion, designers are considered the ruling class.

noun a strong devotion to the interests of one's own region or section of the country, often at the expense of the national interest

• Sectionalism was a prominent factor in the division of the country during the Civil War.
• People's sectionalism often leads to heated debates about regional differences.
• The sectionalism between the East and West Coasts is real.
• In a figurative sense, sectionalism can be seen as building walls between different groups of people.

noun a system of labor in which people are bound to work on a particular piece of land and are treated as the property of the landowner

• Serfdom was a system of labor in medieval Europe where peasants were bound to work on their lord's land.
• Back in the day, serfdom meant peasants had to work for the lord without much freedom.
• Being stuck in serfdom was like being a slave to the landowner.
• In modern times, some people feel trapped in a form of serfdom to their jobs, working long hours with little control over their lives.

adjective showing excessive willingness to serve or please others

• The servile attitude of the butler was evident in his every action.
• She always acts so servile around her boss, it's kind of annoying.
• I can't stand how servile he is to his girlfriend, it's like he's her puppet.
• The company's servile dependence on outdated technology is hindering its progress.

adjective not worthy of respect; disreputable

• The company decided not to associate with the unrespectable individual.
• I heard he got fired for unrespectable behavior at work.
• She's always hanging out with those unrespectable people.
• His actions painted him in an unrespectable light.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea, such as 'upper' in the context of 'upper level'

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun, such as 'upper' in the phrase 'upper body'

adverb A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, such as 'upper' in the phrase 'move upper'

• The upper management team is responsible for making important strategic decisions.
• I prefer sitting in the upper deck at baseball games for a better view.
• Let's hit up the upper floor for the party, it's where all the action is.
• She always aims for the upper echelon of success in her career.

noun A person's occupation or position within society

• Individuals from all walks of life attended the conference.
• People from different walks of life came to the party.
• No matter what your walk of life is, you can still succeed.
• The journey through education is a walk of life that never truly ends.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'state' is a noun as it refers to a political community or territory.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun. 'Third' is an adjective as it specifies the order of the state in relation to others.

• In political theory, the third state is often referred to as the common people or the working class.
• The third state is basically just regular folks like you and me.
• The third state is where the real people are at.
• The third state represents the backbone of society, keeping everything running smoothly.

noun a person or group of people who work for wages, especially in manual or industrial work

adjective relating to or characteristic of the working class

• The out-working-class population is facing challenges in accessing affordable housing.
• Many people in the out-working-class are struggling to make ends meet.
• The out-working-class folks are really hustling to get by.
• The resilience of the out-working-class is truly inspiring.

noun a person or thing that has been lowered in social class or status

adjective a term used to describe someone or something that is considered to be of a lower social class or status than before

• The family's financial troubles caused them to feel declasse among their wealthy peers.
• She always avoided that declasse restaurant because she thought it was too tacky.
• I can't believe she's dating that declasse guy from high school.
• His outdated fashion sense made him look declasse compared to the stylish crowd.

noun a social class formed by people suffering from precarity, which is a condition of existence without predictability or security

article a word that is used to specify a noun as definite or indefinite; in this case, 'the' is specifying 'precariat' as a specific social class

• The precariat refers to a social class characterized by instability and insecurity in terms of employment and income.
• Many young people today belong to the precariat, constantly moving from one temporary job to another.
• The gig economy has created a new breed of workers who are part of the precariat.
• In the modern economy, the precariat are like nomads, never settling in one place for too long.

noun a term used to describe individuals who are financially struggling but still aspire to a bourgeois lifestyle

• The poorgeoisie refers to the lower middle class who aspire to be part of the bourgeoisie.
• Some people call them the poorgeoisie, those who try to act like they are wealthy but are not.
• The poorgeoisie are always trying to keep up with the Joneses.
• In the world of social media, the poorgeoisie are constantly trying to project a lavish lifestyle they cannot afford.