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

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.

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of socioeconomic status

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

In education, it can improve access to learning resources regardless of socioeconomic status.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 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

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

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026

Yet Americans need to acknowledge that perpetrators comes from all political affiliations, they come from all races, socioeconomic status.

From Salon • Nov. 23, 2025

Among the most interesting revelations in the data is the correlation between a baby’s name and the parents’ socioeconomic status.

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