lower class

lower class

See also: lower-class

English

Noun

lower class (plural lower classes)

1. A class of people in a society characterized by low incomes, low level of education, high unemployment and, as a result of these, a low social status.
   • 1911, “Freetown”, in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica:

     The only language of the lower class is pidgin-English—quite incomprehensible to the newcomer from Great Britain, —but a large proportion of the inhabitants are highly educated men who excel as lawyers, clergymen, clerks and traders.

Related terms

• lower-class

Translations

class of people

Finnish: alaluokka (fi) French: bas peuple (fr) m Galician: clase baixa f

Irish: íosaicme f Spanish: clase baja f

See also

• working class