petite bourgeoisie

[ puh-teet boo r-zhwah-zee; French puh-teet boor-zhwa-zee ]

/ pəˈtit ˌbʊər ʒwɑˈzi; French pə tit bur ʒwaˈzi /

noun

the portion of the bourgeoisie having the least wealth and lowest social status; the lower middle class.

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Nearby words

petit serjeanty, petit treason, petit's lumbar triangle, petite, petite bourgeoise, petite bourgeoisie, petite marmite, petitio principii, petition, petitionary, petitioner

Origin of petite bourgeoisie

Borrowed into English from French around 1915–20

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019