class conflict: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Sociopolitical
Quick answer
What does “class conflict” mean?
A struggle between different social classes, especially between the working class and the capitalist class, over economic resources, power, and social status.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A struggle between different social classes, especially between the working class and the capitalist class, over economic resources, power, and social status.
Any tension, disagreement, or antagonism arising from differences in socioeconomic status, privilege, or interests between distinct groups within a society.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically in academic and political discourse. 'Class war' is a more emotive synonym used more frequently in British political rhetoric.
Connotations
UK: Strong historical association with Labour movement and trade unionism. US: Often associated with Marxist theory and viewed as a more radical concept.
Frequency
More frequent in UK political and media discourse. In US discourse, 'income inequality' or 'wealth gap' are more common neutral terms.
Grammar
How to Use “class conflict” in a Sentence
lead to class conflictresult from class conflictbe rooted in class conflictanalyse class conflictexacerbate class conflictVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “class conflict” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The policies could class-conflict with workers' interests.
- Historically, industrialisation class-conflicted with agrarian traditions.
American English
- The tax plan is likely to class-conflict with middle-class needs.
- Their values class-conflicted, leading to social friction.
adverb
British English
- The society was divided class-conflictedly along economic lines.
- They argued class-conflictedly about resource allocation.
American English
- The groups interacted class-conflictedly, with deep mistrust.
- The issue was viewed class-conflictedly by different segments.
adjective
British English
- The class-conflict dynamics were evident in the strike.
- He wrote a class-conflict analysis of the novel.
American English
- The film explores class-conflict themes in a modern city.
- She specializes in class-conflict theory.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in analyses of labour relations or market segmentation.
Academic
Very common in sociology, political science, economics, and history texts.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used in political discussions or commentary.
Technical
Core term in Marxist theory and conflict sociology with specific theoretical parameters.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “class conflict”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “class conflict”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “class conflict”
- Using it to describe personal arguments between individuals of different wealth (misuse of scale).
- Spelling as 'class-conflict' (usually open compound).
- Confusing with 'culture conflict'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In sociology, it refers to a structural antagonism that can manifest in non-violent ways like strikes, political competition, or ideological debate.
Yes. Modern interpretations apply it to any society with significant socioeconomic stratification, such as conflicts between management and labour, or between different income brackets.
'Class warfare' is a more politically charged, journalistic term often implying conscious, aggressive action. 'Class conflict' is the broader, more neutral academic term for the underlying structural tension.
No. It is a central concept in conflict theory (e.g., Marxism) but is given less emphasis in functionalist theories, which focus on social cohesion and shared values.
A struggle between different social classes, especially between the working class and the capitalist class, over economic resources, power, and social status.
Class conflict: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɑːs ˈkɒn.flɪkt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklæs ˈkɑːn.flɪkt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The haves and the have-nots (at loggerheads)”
- “Us versus them (along class lines)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'CLASS'room where two teams (rich vs. poor) are in CONFLICT over who gets the best seats and resources.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A BATTLEFIELD (between classes).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym to 'class conflict' in academic sociology?