leisure class

Cultural  

1. The rich, so called because they can afford not to work. The term was made current by the economist Thorstein Veblen in his book The Theory of the Leisure Class.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

leisure class

The expanding leisure class of the late 19th century was, as Fischer writes, “driven to consume, eager for diversion and entertainment.”

From Washington Post ● Apr. 27, 2022

Gillespie said the rule is "kind of a holdover from the leisure class."

From Fox News ● Sep. 6, 2021

“They used to be this glaring symbol that you were a lady of the leisure class, right?” said Stellene Volandes, the editor in chief of Town & Country..

From New York Times ● Mar. 17, 2020

It left smug, witless readers of the leisure class amused.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2019

A jungle yields no abundance to feed the multitudes, and supports no leisure class.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• affluent
• upscale
• wealthy
• well-heeled
• well-off
• well-to-do