bourgeois

bourgeois — adjective

IPA/ˈbɔːʒ.wɑː/
KK[bˈʊrʒwɑ]IPA/ˈbʊrʒ.wɑː/
  • bourgeoispositive
  • more bourgeoiscomparative
  • most bourgeoissuperlative

1. relating to the social group that sits between the working class and the wealthy

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to the social group that sits between the working class and the wealthy upper class, a group often seen as focused on material comfort, traditional customs, and the pursuit of financial security

Example

Saira's bourgeois family stressed the importance of education and hard work.

bourgeois + noun describing social group

The novel pokes fun at the bourgeois obsession with keeping up appearances.

bourgeois + noun (obsession with appearances)

Common collocations
  • bourgeois family
  • bourgeois society
  • bourgeois values
  • bourgeois lifestyle
  • bourgeois taste
Synonyms
  • middle-class

    neutral and more commonly used in everyday speech; bourgeois often carries a critical edge

  • conventional

    focuses on following social norms rather than class position

Antonyms
  • bohemian

    describes someone who lives an unconventional artistic life, rejecting middle-class norms

  • proletarian

    working-class, especially in Marxist terminology

Grammar Patterns

bourgeois + noun

Usage Note

Frequently carries a mildly critical tone, especially when describing attitudes or values as overly conventional or materialistic. The neutral sense simply describes the middle class without judgment.

Common Mistakes

He comes from a bourgeous family.
He comes from a bourgeois family.
Note the spelling: 'bourgeois' ends in -geois, not -geous.

2. relating to the social class that owns businesses, factories, and property and c

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

relating to the social class that owns businesses, factories, and property and controls the economy, as described in Marxist political theory

Example

In Marxist theory the bourgeois class owns the factories and exploits the workers.

bourgeois class in Marxist context

Rafael wrote a paper criticising the bourgeois control of the legal system.

Common collocations
  • bourgeois class
  • bourgeois society
  • bourgeois interests
  • bourgeois ideology
Synonyms
  • capitalist

    more general term not tied to Marxist ideology; commonly used in everyday contexts

  • propertied

    emphasises ownership of land and assets rather than control of production

Antonyms
  • proletarian

    the working class in Marxist theory, who sell their labour to the bourgeois

Grammar Patterns

bourgeois + noun

Usage Note

Almost exclusively used in the context of Marxist or socialist political analysis. Outside these contexts, 'capitalist' or 'corporate' are more common. The noun form 'bourgeoisie' is more frequent for this sense.

Common Mistakes

The bourgeoisie factories are more efficient.
Bourgeois factories are more efficient.
'Bourgeoisie' is a noun meaning the class, not an adjective; use 'bourgeois' as an adjective to describe things.

bourgeois — noun

IPA/ˈbʊəʒwɑː/
KK[bʊrʒwˈɑ]IPA/ˌbʊrˈʒwɑː/

Word family

  • bourgeoisie
    nounC1
  • bourgeoisify
    verbC2
  • bourgeoisification
    nounC2
  • petit bourgeois
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

While 'middle-class' is a neutral term simply describing the social group between working and upper classes, 'bourgeois' almost always adds a judgmental or critical tone, especially in intellectual or political writing. 'Conventional' focuses on following social norms and traditions rather than class position — a person can be conventional without being middle-class. 'Materialistic' narrows the meaning to the desire for money and possessions, which is one aspect of the stereotypical bourgeois attitude but not the whole picture. In everyday conversation, 'middle-class' is the safest choice; use 'bourgeois' when you want the critical edge that comes from Marxist or sociological traditions. For example: 'Her middle-class parents sent her to music lessons' (neutral) vs. 'Her bourgeois parents cared more about appearances than about her happiness' (critical).

middle-class ↗bourgeois ↗conventional ↗materialistic ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • the bourgeois
  • a bourgeois

Etymology

FrenchOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Bourgeois comes from Old French 'burgeis', meaning a town-dweller or freeman of a borough. In medieval Europe, 'bourgeois' referred to the class of merchants, artisans, and professionals who lived in towns (burghs) and were distinct from the nobility above them and the peasants below. The word entered English in the 16th century and later took on its modern political meaning through the writings of Karl Marx, who used 'bourgeois' to describe the capitalist class that owns the means of production.

First known use

1761

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun