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upper-class

upper-class

11 4.3
Belonging to the richest and most powerful people in society
  • adjective
  • /ˈʌpər klæs/
translation icon : de clase alta
  • The predominantly White, middle- to upper-class sample limits generalizability to other racial and socioeconomic groups.
  • upper-class woman
  • upper-class family
  • upper-class neighborhoods

He was a patronizing upper class WASP gentleman.

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Examples

  • Have you ever read a testimony more faithful to the stereotype of British upper-class intellectual dottiness?

    Academic text (1998)
  • In a very real sense, middle and upper-class cultures in the United States get the universities they deserve.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The story of the judgment would have been well known to most upper-class Romans.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Access to cable is also clearly related to class, since cable is most available in upper-class neighborhoods.

    Academic text (1991)
  • As in many parts of the world, consuming beef often marks the boundary between upper-class homes and the poor.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Both of them looked as though they belonged to a young woman, a well-groomed, upper-class young woman.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Throughout her childhood and youth, she lived in a comfortable upper-class, cosmopolitan family with artistic and literary interests.

    Academic text (1999)
  • But Charlton seems to have catered to an upper-class crowd.

    Academic text (2011)
  • From an upper-class background, Darrin Drozdov was an unlikely candidate.

  • Many upper-class families in the city enjoy exclusive membership at private clubs.

Synonyms

high-class
vsupper-class
20 5.8

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

is about actual high social or economic standing rather than just appearance
aristocratic
vsupper-class
19 7.2

Like people from rich, important families who have high social rank

is broader, applying to any top social or economic group
highborn
vsupper-class
  • Literature
1 7.5

A person from a noble or upper-class family

is about high social or economic status regardless of family origin
upper-crusty
vsupper-class
  • Offensive
1 9.3

Showing the attitude of a rich person who thinks they are better than others

is neutral term for high social or economic status without snobbish tone

Antonyms

5 3.5

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

How Wealthy

elite
258 4.7
upper-class
11 4.3
middle-class
201 3.2
working-class
56 3.4
lower-class
5 3.5

Surface Forms

upper-class positive
upper-classer comparative
upper-classest superlative

Morphology

upper-class = upper + class (transparent) = upper + class

The adjective 'upper' and the noun 'class' combine directly to denote a higher social class, which learners can derive from the components.

Etymology

Upper-class comes from upper meaning 'higher' and class meaning 'group' or 'rank', as in 'first class' on a plane. So, upper-class means the 'higher' part of society that usually has more money, status, or special privileges.