upper class

American  

noun

1. a class of people above the middle class, having the highest social rank or standing based on wealth, family connections, and the like.

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upper class British  

noun

1. the class occupying the highest position in the social hierarchy, esp the wealthy or the aristocracy

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adjective

1. of or relating to the upper class

2. education of or relating to the junior or senior classes of a college or high school

Other Word Forms

• upper-class adjective

Etymology

Origin of upper class

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

In January, Shulman floated into a West Hollywood nightclub packed with members of the music industry’s upper class—people who represented the interests of the biggest artists in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I come from a simple background. I have absolutely no desire to belong to a sort of 'upper class'," he said in later years.

From Barron's

"It can feel like you have to be middle to upper class to understand it - but Ballet Nights has made it extremely accessible for everyone."

From BBC

Maggie Fox was used to managing difficult men of the middle and upper classes, whether drunk, rude, or simply full of themselves.

From Literature

“Poor people are as bad off as in the special period, but a segment of middle and upper class have access to dollars and are not in such bad shape, which causes real social tension.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aristocracy
• jet set
• upper crust