classism

American  

[klas-iz-uhm] / ˈklæs ɪz əm /

noun

1. a biased or discriminatory attitude based on distinctions made between social or economic classes.

2. the viewing of society as being composed of distinct classes.

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classism British  

/ ˈklɑːsɪzəm /

noun

1. the belief that people from certain social or economic classes are superior to others

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Other Word Forms

• classist adjective

Etymology

Origin of classism

First recorded in 1835–45; class + -ism

Explanation

Classism is discriminating against people because of how much money they have, their level of education, or the kind of job they do. Assuming someone is poor because they're too lazy to work is an example of classism. Classism, like racism and sexism, shows up in an individual's prejudice against poor or uneducated people but also affects government policies, company hiring, college admissions, and more. The fact that wealthy citizens have more power to influence politics than poorer people is a form of institutional classism. And if you think people who own mansions are better than those living in tiny apartments, or that a lawyer is smarter than an electrician or plumber, that's also the result of classism.

Example Sentences

What secured the show’s passionate fandom are the scripts’ provocative considerations of classism and cultural discrimination as the most potent accelerants of any society’s downfall.

From Salon • Dec. 7, 2025

Telling the story of the Black elite living in Newport, R.I., and the classism and colorism within that community was vitally important.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

Perhaps the part of the original statement that writers took issue with the most was NaNoWriMo promoting A.I. as a means to fight classism.

From Slate • Sep. 11, 2024

Mary defied her era’s Southern Belle stereotypes, rejecting racism and classism in favor of everyday advocacy for equality.

From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2023

In a country where racism and classism are still so dominant, Pele, a black footballer from a poor background, was an incredible success story.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2022