socioeconomic status

American  

[soh-see-oh-ek-uh-nom-ik stey-tuhs, stat-uhs, ‐-ee-kuh‐, soh-shee-oh‐, soh‐] / ˈsoʊ si oʊˌɛk əˈnɒm ɪk ˈsteɪ təs, ˈstæt əs, ‐ˌi kə‐, ˈsoʊ ʃi oʊ‐, ˌsoʊ‐ /

noun

socioeconomic statuses plural

1. the position or standing of a person or group in a society as determined by a combination of social and economic factors that affect access to education and other resources crucial to an individual’s upward mobility: SES

   Low socioeconomic status is linked to many health risks, including cardiovascular disease.

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socioeconomic status Cultural  

1. An individual's or group's position within a hierarchical social structure. Socioeconomic status depends on a combination of variables, including occupation, education, income, wealth, and place of residence. Sociologists often use socioeconomic status as a means of predicting behavior.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• socioeconomic statuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of socioeconomic status

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

socioeconomic status

Instead, it reports results by sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability and English-learner status—the categories Washington requires.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

However he said it could include gender, age, month and year of birth, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and measures from biological samples.

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

Andie’s socioeconomic status is integral to her character.

From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2026

Participants completed questionnaires detailing their demographics, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle habits.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 26, 2026

A high socioeconomic status is strongly correlated to higher test scores, which seems sensible.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt