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Glite Dictionary
low-class

low-class

9 4.9
From the lowest social or economic group and seen as having low status
  • adjective
  • /loʊ klæs/
  • Offensive
translation icon : [término ofensivo para alguien de clase baja]
  • The harder I tried, the more I seemed, even to myself, a bumbling low-class fool.

I saw them together with a real low class African American or white guy.

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Examples

  • Since when is a Hank Williams song too low class for you?

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I told you it was dangerous to come to these low-class bars.

    Heartbreakers (2001)

  • I saw ourselves through her eyes: a pair of low-class slobs with four kids and no common sense or style.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • People aren't willing to take what they consider a "low-class" job in skilled labor.

    Blog text (13)

  • I, being a low-class type, prefer the sounds of Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, and the Beatles.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • When discussing social issues, she remarked that low-class citizens often face discrimination and limited opportunities.

  • In the movie, the protagonist came from a low-class background and struggled to achieve her dreams.

  • His low-class upbringing made it challenging for him to fit in at the elite university.

Synonyms

lowly
vslow-class
46 4.2

A person of low rank or importance, for example a servant

focuses on social class and group position rather than personal humility
second-class
vslow-class
  • Offensive
28 4.7

Someone treated as less important and given fewer rights or benefits

describes belonging to the lowest social group rather than treatment alone
underprivileged
vslow-class
24 4.4

People who have less money, chances, or help than others

emphasizes social status and class rather than lacking resources or chances
lower-class
vslow-class
5 3.5

People who have little money, little education, or low social status

is the general label for people in that lowest socioeconomic group
lowborn
vslow-class
  • Archaic
1 7.4

A person from a family that is not rich or important

refers to present socioeconomic group membership rather than ancestry alone
lowbred
vslow-class
  • Offensive
9.5

Showing bad manners and little respect for others

focuses on social position and wealth not on manners or upbringing

Antonyms

high-class
20 5.8

Showing elegant, expensive style that makes someone seem richer or more important

How Respectable

elite
258 4.7
classy
133 4.1
respectable
114 3.0
ordinary
683 1.0
low-class
  • Offensive
9 4.9
seedy
  • Informal
26 6.1

Surface Forms

low-class positive

Morphology

low-class = low + class (transparent) = low + class

The adjective is a straightforward compound of 'low' + 'class', meaning belonging to a lower social class, which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Low-class combines low ('near the bottom') and class ('a social group'), so imagine a social ladder where 'low' means a lower position. That's why low-class means someone or something is seen as having low social status or poor taste, and it is often used in a negative way.