Social Class Vocabulary

noun the nobility or those believed to be superior in a society

• The aristocracy held significant power and influence in society during the 18th century.
• The aristocracy always seems to be attending fancy parties and events.
• Some people think the aristocracy is just a bunch of rich snobs.
• In the world of fashion, the aristocracy refers to the top designers and trendsetters.

noun a member of the middle class

adjective of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes

• The bourgeois class in society is often associated with wealth and privilege.
• She comes from a bourgeois family, so she's always had access to the finer things in life.
• Those bourgeois folks think they're better than everyone else.
• His taste in art is quite bourgeois, always sticking to traditional and mainstream styles.

noun a citizen of a town or city, typically a member of the middle class

• The burgher was a respected member of the town council.
• The burgher always attends the community meetings.
• The burgher is like the mayor of our neighborhood.
• In the world of finance, he was considered a burgher among the elite investors.

noun a person of the general public, typically with average income and education

• The policies implemented by the government should consider the needs of the common man.
• The common man just wants to be able to afford a decent living.
• The common man is just trying to make ends meet.
• In the eyes of the law, the common man is equal to all others.

noun a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group

• The linguist studied the regional dialects spoken in different parts of the country.
• I love hearing my grandmother speak in her old dialect, it's so unique.
• Some people find it hard to understand the dialect spoken in certain rural areas.
• The dialect of jazz music is a language all its own, full of improvisation and soul.

adjective referring to or characteristic of the upper class or a refined upbringing; polite, refined, or respectable in an affected or ostentatious way

• The genteel lady greeted everyone at the party with a warm smile.
• She comes from a very genteel family, always hosting elegant dinners.
• That new boutique is so genteel, I love their trendy clothes.
• His writing style is very genteel, with a touch of sophistication and grace.

noun a social elite or fashionable society

• The haut monde of society gathered at the exclusive charity gala.
• The haut monde were all dressed to the nines at the party last night.
• I can't believe we got into the haut monde club without a reservation!
• In the world of politics, only those in the haut monde have access to certain information.

adjective An adjective describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'ill-bred' describes someone who lacks good manners or proper upbringing.

• The ill-bred behavior of the guests was quite evident during the dinner party.
• I can't believe how ill-bred some people can be in public.
• Those ill-bred kids have no manners at all.
• His ill-bred attitude towards others will only lead to trouble in the long run.

adjective relating to or characteristic of dispossessed, unskilled, and uprooted individuals or groups in society

• The lumpen proletariat is a term used to describe the lowest and most marginalized social class.
• The lumpen guys at the bar always cause trouble on Friday nights.
• I can't believe he's dating that lumpen chick, she's so basic.
• His mind felt like a lumpen mass of confusion after the accident.

noun the class of peasants collectively

• The peasantry in medieval Europe were often subject to harsh living conditions and heavy taxation.
• The peasantry back in the day had it rough, man.
• Those peasants were just trying to make ends meet.
• The peasantry of society often goes unnoticed and underappreciated.

noun a class or group of nobles or aristocrats, especially those holding hereditary titles

• The peerage system in the United Kingdom is made up of different ranks of nobility.
• Hereditary titles in the peerage can sometimes be a topic of gossip among the upper class.
• I heard he's trying to marry into the peerage to secure his social status.
• In the world of academia, being published in a prestigious journal is like entering the peerage of respected researchers.

noun a category or rank below first class

adjective of inferior quality or importance

• The airline offers both first class and second class seating options.
• I don't mind flying second class, as long as it's a direct flight.
• I always feel like a second class citizen when I have to wait in long lines.
• She always puts her needs second class compared to others.

noun a fashionable social group or elite class of people characterized by their intelligence, sophistication, and stylishness

• The smart set in the business world always stays ahead of the curve.
• The smart set at the office always knows the latest gossip before anyone else.
• The smart set at school are the ones who always have the inside scoop.
• Being part of the smart set means being in the loop with all the important information.

verb past tense of stratify, meaning to arrange or divide into layers

adjective arranged in layers

• The data was stratified based on income levels before analysis.
• They stratified the teams by skill level for the tournament.
• Let's stratify the playlist with some old school jams.
• Her emotions were stratified, with layers of sadness and anger.

adjective behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

• Her supercilious attitude towards her colleagues made it difficult for them to work together.
• I can't stand how supercilious he acts around us.
• She's always so supercilious, thinking she's better than everyone else.
• His supercilious smirk spoke volumes about his arrogance.

noun a class or order of society constituted by commoners, especially outside the clergy and the aristocracy

• In feudal France, the third estate consisted of commoners who were not part of the clergy or nobility.
• The third estate was made up of regular people like farmers, merchants, and artisans.
• Back in the day, the third estate was basically the 'working class' of France.
• The third estate symbolized the majority of the population who were often marginalized by the elite classes.

noun the obligations or services owed by a vassal to a feudal lord

• The lord granted vassalage to his loyal subjects in exchange for their service and loyalty.
• In the olden days, being in vassalage meant you had to work for the lord in return for protection.
• Back in the feudal times, vassalage was like being a boss's minion.
• The company's strict policies felt like vassalage, with employees having to follow every rule without question.

adjective describing someone who has a lot of money or possessions

• The wealthy businessman donated a large sum of money to the charity.
• She comes from a wealthy family and never has to worry about money.
• That guy is loaded, he's so wealthy he could buy anything he wants.
• Her knowledge is a wealthy resource that she generously shares with others.

noun a term used in Australian slang to refer to a person who is unkempt or poorly dressed

• The charva was seen loitering outside the convenience store.
• I heard that charva got into a fight at the park yesterday.
• That charva is always causing trouble around here.
• The charva's attitude was as prickly as a cactus.

noun A structure or enclosure, typically made of metal bars, that is covered in a thin layer of gold or gold-colored material.

• She lived in a gilded cage, surrounded by luxury but unable to experience true freedom.
• Living in that fancy mansion may seem great, but it's like being in a gilded cage.
• The rich and famous may have all the money in the world, but they're still stuck in a gilded cage.
• The high-paying job came with a lot of restrictions, making it feel like a gilded cage.