mid·dle-class
ˌmi-dᵊl-ˈklas 
: of or relating to the middle class
especially
: characterized by a high material standard of living, sexual morality, and respect for property
a typical middle-class family
traditional middle-class values
: a class occupying a position between the upper class and the lower class
especially
: a fluid heterogeneous socioeconomic grouping composed principally of business and professional people, bureaucrats, and some farmers and skilled workers sharing common social characteristics and values
Examples of middle-class in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
ABC News, 13 May 2026
So for many middle-class Americans, the choice is between a dangerous amount of debt or no new car at all — which has, in turn, sent prices for used cars soaring.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Nick Hanauer, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026
The real surge is in the upper-middle class of baserunners who aren’t necessarily burners but have enough speed to take a bag, and have become more confident and comfortable running against a pitcher who’s up against the clock.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for middle-class
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Adjective
Although the Republican president has tried to put more money in middle-class pockets with tax cuts, the benefits are being eroded as prices keep rising, especially during the war with Iran.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
So for many middle-class Americans, the choice is between a dangerous amount of debt or no new car at all — which has, in turn, sent prices for used cars soaring.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Noun
Large, broadly prosperous middle classes have always been built deliberately—through labor protections, public investment, antitrust enforcement, and progressive taxation.
—Nick Hanauer, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026
The real surge is in the upper-middle class of baserunners who aren’t necessarily burners but have enough speed to take a bag, and have become more confident and comfortable running against a pitcher who’s up against the clock.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for middle-class
Cite this Entry
“Middle-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle-class. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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