middle-class
middle-class — adjective
1. Describing the segment of educated professionals — for instance, architects, pha
Describing the segment of educated professionals — for instance, architects, pharmacists, and engineers — whose stable, respected careers provide a comfortable living without making them wealthy.
Christopher's father worked as a civil engineer, and his mother taught piano — a typical middle-class upbringing in Jakarta.
collocation: middle-class upbringing
The middle-class suburbs of Manila are filled with lawyers, engineers, and accountants.
The middle-class high school Élise attended in Lyon sent most graduates to medical and law programs.
Their middle-class salary in Munich covered the mortgage, yearly holidays, and piano lessons for two children.
- professional
Focuses on high-skill, degree-required occupations rather than social class overall
- affluent
Suggests greater wealth and luxury than typically implied by middle-class
- working-class
Refers to people in manual or low-paid jobs with less economic security
- upper-class
Refers to the wealthy elite, often with inherited money or high-level power
文法句型
middle-class + noun (family/home/upbringing)
be + middle-class
用法筆記
Frequently used before nouns such as family, background, upbringing, home, and neighborhood. Distinguish from sense 2, which refers to the broader group of ordinary working people rather than specifically to well-educated professionals.
常見錯誤
2. Relating to the broad group of ordinary working people who have steady jobs and
Relating to the broad group of ordinary working people who have steady jobs and a decent income, putting them in a comfortable financial position between poverty and wealth.
Romi's father worked in a shoe factory, and her mother ran a small shop — a steady middle-class life in Surabaya.
collocation: middle-class life
Middle-class families in this town struggle to pay rent after prices doubled in three years.
collocation: middle-class families
The new supermarket chain targets middle-class shoppers with affordable organic produce and fresh bread daily.
After rent increases, the Min family in Seoul needed both salaries just to keep their middle-class lifestyle.
Liang noticed that middle-class voters care deeply about public school quality and safety.
- ordinary
Focuses on the typical or average nature rather than a specific income bracket
文法句型
middle-class + noun (family/income/voter)
be + middle-class
用法筆記
This is the more common of the two adjective senses. Often appears in economic and political discussions about broad social groups: middle-class families, middle-class income, middle-class voters.
常見錯誤
middle-class — noun
1. The social stratum formed by educated professionals — architects, accountants, a
The social stratum formed by educated professionals — architects, accountants, and engineers — whose incomes allow a comfortable, secure life without reaching the level of the wealthy.
Between 1950 and 1970, Britain's professional middle class grew as new hospitals and schools hired more doctors and teachers.
collocation: professional middle class
Yasmin's family joined the middle class when her mother became a school principal.
A new tax break for the middle class helped Priya's parents save for a house down payment.
In Lagos, the middle class has grown steadily as more young people earn advanced degrees.
- bourgeoisie
A more academic term with Marxist overtones, focusing on owners of capital rather than salaried professionals
- professional class
Specifically refers to those in high-skill, degree-requiring occupations
- working class
People in manual, service, or low-paid jobs with less economic security
- upper class
The wealthy elite who often have inherited money and significant social power
文法句型
the middle class + verb (singular)
belong to the middle class
the + professional + middle class
用法筆記
This sense narrows the noun to the traditional professional segment (teachers, doctors, lawyers). When used without context, 'the middle class' more often refers to the broader sense 2. Use modifiers like 'professional' or 'upper' to signal this specific meaning.
2. The large social group of ordinary working people who have steady jobs and enoug
The large social group of ordinary working people who have steady jobs and enough money to pay for housing, food, and other basic needs, without being wealthy.
The middle class in Minas Gerais, mostly office workers and shopkeepers, makes up sixty percent of local voters.
collocation: the middle class makes up [share] of
Andrei's neighborhood is mostly middle class, with a mix of office workers and shop owners.
Housing prices in Berlin have pushed the middle class toward neighborhoods farther from the center.
Amihan works as a clerk at a local hospital and considers herself firmly middle class.
- middle-income group
An economic term based purely on income brackets, not social standing
- salaried workers
Emphasizes the type of employment (monthly salary) rather than social class
文法句型
the middle class + verb (singular)
expand/shrink the middle class
the middle class makes up [percentage]
用法筆記
This is the default meaning of 'the middle class' in everyday speech and news reporting. It covers a wide range of occupations and income levels. In contrast to sense 1, it does not specifically emphasize university education or professional licensure.
常見錯誤
3. The segment of society that occupies the economic and social position between th
The segment of society that occupies the economic and social position between the wealthy upper class and the poor lower class, used as a general analytical category.
In her sociology paper, Anjali defined the middle class as families earning between forty and one hundred thousand dollars yearly.
sociological definition with income brackets
Yara studied how the middle class in Argentina changed during the economic crisis of 2001.
A census report from 2023 found that the middle class in Jakarta makes up forty-two percent of households.
Quinn's neighborhood in Detroit lost its middle class after two car factories shut down in 2008.
- middle stratum
A more technical sociological term for this generic category
- upper class
The wealthy segment at the top of the social hierarchy
- lower class
The poor segment at the bottom of the social hierarchy
文法句型
the middle class + verb (singular)
define/describe the middle class as
用法筆記
Primarily used in sociology, political science, and formal writing about social structure. Less common in everyday conversation than sense 2. The phrase 'a strong middle class' appears frequently in this analytical sense.