classism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, academic, sociological, political
Quick answer
What does “classism” mean?
Prejudice against or discrimination based on social class, particularly against people from a lower class.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Prejudice against or discrimination based on social class, particularly against people from a lower class.
The systemic assignment of worth and ability based on social class, involving practices and policies that privilege upper classes while disadvantaging working and lower classes. It is the ideology and institutionalized belief that one social class is superior to another.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept is more explicitly discussed in British discourse due to a more historically rigid class system, while in American discourse it is often discussed alongside or as a subset of systemic racism and economic inequality.
Connotations
UK: Strong historical and cultural resonance tied to aristocracy, education (e.g., private vs. state schools), and accents. US: More associated with wealth disparity, 'old money' vs. 'new money', and interwoven with race.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK academic and media contexts. In the US, the term is common in critical sociology, social justice, and political activism.
Grammar
How to Use “classism” in a Sentence
classism (against [social class/group])classism in [institution/context]classism from [perpetrator]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “classism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The policy was criticised for effectively classing people out of opportunity.
- She felt she had been classed at the interview.
American English
- The system classifies people in ways that perpetuate inequality.
- He argued they were being classed out of the neighborhood.
adverb
British English
- He remarked classistically about their regional accents.
- The system operates classistically by design.
American English
- The law was applied classistically, affecting poorer districts most.
- She argued the criteria were judged classistically.
adjective
British English
- The comment was deeply classist and offensive.
- They called out the club's classist membership rules.
American English
- That's a classist assumption about people who work manual jobs.
- The policy had a classist impact on low-income applicants.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) training and policies regarding socioeconomic background in hiring and promotion.
Academic
A key concept in sociology, political science, and critical theory for analyzing social stratification.
Everyday
Used in discussions of privilege, fairness, and personal experiences of being judged for one's background, job, or education.
Technical
Used precisely in social science research to denote institutional mechanisms that reproduce class inequality.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “classism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “classism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “classism”
- Confusing with 'classicism' (relating to ancient Greek/Roman art).
- Using it to describe simple envy of the rich rather than systemic bias.
- Misspelling as 'classicism'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Snobbery is an individual attitude of superiority. Classism includes individual prejudice but more importantly refers to systemic, institutional discrimination based on class.
While prejudice against wealthy individuals exists (sometimes called 'reverse classism'), the term 'classism' primarily describes discrimination by a more powerful class against a less powerful one. Prejudice against the rich lacks the same systemic power dimension.
Racism is prejudice based on perceived racial or ethnic groups, while classism is based on socioeconomic class. They are distinct but often intersect and reinforce each other in practice.
Relatively. It emerged in the mid-20th century (first recorded around 1955) by analogy with 'racism' and 'sexism', gaining prominence from the 1970s onwards in academic and social justice contexts.
Prejudice against or discrimination based on social class, particularly against people from a lower class.
Classism is usually formal, academic, sociological, political in register.
Classism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɑːs.ɪz.əm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklæs.ɪz.əm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly expressed via idioms; the term itself is the technical label.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CLASS' + 'ISM' – an 'ISM' (system of belief/practice) based on social CLASS.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL CLASS IS A HIERARCHICAL LADDER (with prejudice keeping people on lower rungs). CLASSISM IS A BARRIER/WALL.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of institutional classism?