up·per-class
ˌə-pər-ˈklas 
-ˈkläs
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the highest social class in a society
: a social class occupying a position above the middle class and having the highest status in a society
Examples of upper-class in a Sentence
Adjective
upper-class boys who had an entrenched sense of entitlement
Noun
a popular pastime among the upper classes
a member of the upper class
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
As Derya and Aziz’s hypocrisies, as upper-class intellectuals, are increasingly brought to the fore, Namal and Biçer’s conversational performances grow haggard and strained.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Thematically, Wuthering Heights is reminiscent of the director’s previous movie, Saltburn, which also saw a rough outsider infiltrating the upper class in Britain.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
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Adjective
There will always be members of the upper-class that may be considered exceptional and vice versa.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
As Derya and Aziz’s hypocrisies, as upper-class intellectuals, are increasingly brought to the fore, Namal and Biçer’s conversational performances grow haggard and strained.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
In contrast to the space, time and knowledge required to know the paintings in prestigious museums—taxonomies that are often signifiers of upper class existence.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Thematically, Wuthering Heights is reminiscent of the director’s previous movie, Saltburn, which also saw a rough outsider infiltrating the upper class in Britain.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upper-class
Cite this Entry
“Upper-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upper-class. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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