the upper class

IPA/ði ˌʌpə ˈklɑːs/
IPA/ði ˌʌpər ˈklæs/

the upper class — noun

1. the social group whose members have the most wealth, inherited status, and polit

1.nounB1
Definition

the social group whose members have the most wealth, inherited status, and political influence in a society — for example, families who have owned land or large businesses for several generations and whose children attend the most expensive schools.

Example

Tariro's family has belonged to the upper class since her great-grandfather built a railway company.

belong to the upper class; [Name]'s family + upper class

The upper class in Kyoto owns many of the traditional tea houses and historic gardens.

the upper class in [place]

Common collocations
  • belong to the upper class
  • born into the upper class
  • part of the upper class
  • upper class family
  • upper class background
  • upper class society
Synonyms
  • aristocracy

    narrower — refers specifically to people with noble titles, not all wealthy families

  • elite

    broader — can mean the top group in any field, not only by birth or wealth

  • upper crust

    informal, slightly humorous term for the upper class

Antonyms
  • lower class

    the social group with the least wealth and status

  • working class

    people who earn money through manual or industrial work

Grammar Patterns

the + upper class

belong to the upper class

from the upper class

Common Mistakes

He belongs to the upper class people.
He belongs to the upper class.
'upper class' already refers to a group of people; adding 'people' is redundant.
She is an upper class.
She comes from the upper class.
'upper class' is a group noun, not used with the indefinite article for an individual.

Word family

  • upper-class
    adjectiveB1
  • class
    nounA2
  • class
    verbB2
  • classless
    adjectiveB2
  • middle class
    nounB1
  • working class
    nounB1
  • lower class
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All of these describe people with high social standing, but the scope and tone differ. Aristocracy specifically refers to people with noble titles (dukes, earls, barons) and inherited rank — a narrower group than the upper class, which also includes wealthy business families without titles. Elite can apply to any domain (political elite, academic elite) and emphasizes top position rather than class background. Gentry is a historical British term for landowners just below the aristocracy; it is now rarely used outside of historical writing. Upper crust is an informal and often playful label for the upper class. You might say 'Her family belongs to the upper class' (neutral fact) but 'They're upper crust' sounds more like a casual, mildly critical remark.

aristocracy ↗elite ↗gentryupper crust

Common collocations

Nouns

  • member of the upper class
  • upper class family
  • upper class background
  • upper class values
  • upper class society

Adverbs

  • traditionally upper class
  • exclusively upper class

Phrases

  • born into the upper class
  • belong to the upper class
  • part of the upper class
  • marry into the upper class

Prepositions

  • from the upper class
  • into the upper class
  • among the upper class

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinEnglish

The phrase 'upper class' combines the adjective 'upper' (higher in position or rank, from Old English 'upp') with 'class' (a division of society, from Latin 'classis'). It came into regular use in Britain during the 1700s, when the Industrial Revolution created a new wealthy group alongside the traditional titled aristocracy, and people needed a term to describe the whole top layer of society.