upper class

American  

noun

upper classes plural

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

---

upper class British  

noun

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

---

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

Derived Forms

• upper-class
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• upper classes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of upper class

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

More than 40% of Americans who call themselves upper class or upper-middle class say they haven’t saved enough money to retire comfortably.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

And Cooper's social circle now included some very upper class people indeed.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025

Through the centuries, the unisex garment evolved from an underlayer for the upper class to become outerwear, sashed with an obi but featuring smaller sleeves that aided physical activity — helpful for the samurai warriors.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2024

In many ways I feel more at home with those folks than I do with the white upper class and other elites who I often travel among personally and professionally.

From Salon • May 23, 2024

The As overwhelmingly came from the middle and the upper class.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• aristocracy
• jet set
• upper crust