low·er-class
ˌlō-ər-ˈklas 
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the lower class
2
: being an inferior or low-ranking specimen of its kind
a lower-class theater
: a social class occupying a position below the middle class and having the lowest status in a society
Examples of lower-class in a Sentence
Adjective
they were finally earning enough to get out of the lower-class tax bracket
Noun
a member of the lower class
Recent Examples on the Web
Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2025
West Contra Costa Unified’s agreement with teachers calls for adding 120 teachers and support staff to lower class sizes in K-3 grades and cap classroom sizes elsewhere.
—Edsource, Mercury News, 28 Nov. 2025
Class 3 e-bikes can reach 28 mph with pedal assistance, while lower classes are limited to 20 mph with either pedal assist or a throttle, according to Carmel’s definitions.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 18 Nov. 2025
Mamdani’s campaign was driven by his optimistic view of the city and his promises to improve the quality of life for its middle and lower classes.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lower-class
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Noun
When people clashed, norms dictated that the privileged classes were afforded the prerogative of violence; retribution from lower classes tended to be penalized.
—Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2025
West Contra Costa Unified’s agreement with teachers calls for adding 120 teachers and support staff to lower class sizes in K-3 grades and cap classroom sizes elsewhere.
—Edsource, Mercury News, 28 Nov. 2025
Class 3 e-bikes can reach 28 mph with pedal assistance, while lower classes are limited to 20 mph with either pedal assist or a throttle, according to Carmel’s definitions.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 18 Nov. 2025
Mamdani’s campaign was driven by his optimistic view of the city and his promises to improve the quality of life for its middle and lower classes.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lower-class
Cite this Entry
“Lower-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lower-class. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
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