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

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

Factors such as socioeconomic status and sex may influence how diet relates to mental health, making the relationship more complex.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

The student-specific data that schools must turn over includes Medical College Admission Test scores, undergraduate grade-point averages, citizenship status, extracurricular activities, essays, socioeconomic status, legacy treatment and family-donation history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 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