silk-stocking: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “silk-stocking” mean?
An aristocratic or wealthy person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An aristocratic or wealthy person.
Pertaining to or characteristic of wealthy or upper-class people.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more common in historical American political journalism (e.g., 'silk-stocking district'). In UK, 'silk-stocking' as a noun for a wealthy person is more archaic.
Connotations
American: Politically connotes wealthy, often liberal, urban voters (esp. NYC). British: Connotes old-fashioned or historical wealth, less politically charged.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary speech in both varieties, but slightly more recognizable in American political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “silk-stocking” in a Sentence
ADJ+NOUN (silk-stocking X)DET+ADJ+NOUN (the silk-stocking Ys)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “silk-stocking” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The event had a distinctly silk-stocking feel, with champagne and canapés.
American English
- She represents a famous silk-stocking district in Manhattan.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might refer to high-end markets.
Academic
Used in historical/political studies.
Everyday
Very rare.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “silk-stocking”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “silk-stocking”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “silk-stocking”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to silk-stock'). Hyphen is often used when adjective, can be omitted in noun form ('silk stockings').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is rare in everyday conversation but persists in historical and political journalism, particularly in the US.
Yes, historically as a noun (e.g., 'He was a true silk-stocking'), but the adjectival use is more common.
'Silk-stocking' often carries a historical or political-journalistic nuance, sometimes implying a certain liberal or urban wealth, whereas 'upper-class' is more general.
Terms like 'affluent', 'well-heeled', or 'high-net-worth' are more common in contemporary usage.
An aristocratic or wealthy person.
Silk-stocking is usually formal, historical, journalistic in register.
Silk-stocking: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪlk ˈstɒkɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪlk ˈstɑːkɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “live in a silk-stocking world”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a historical portrait of someone wearing fancy silk stockings, a clear sign of wealth.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS LUXURIOUS MATERIAL (silk).
Practice
Quiz
'Silk-stocking' in 'silk-stocking district' primarily refers to: