social stratification: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Academic, Formal, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “social stratification” mean?
The division of a society into hierarchical layers based on factors like wealth, power, and status.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The division of a society into hierarchical layers based on factors like wealth, power, and status.
The structured ranking of individuals and groups within a society that creates unequal access to resources, opportunities, and social privileges.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US academic contexts.
Connotations
Neutral/scientific in academic use; can carry a critical connotation in political or journalistic discourse regarding inequality.
Frequency
Equally common in sociology and related social sciences in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “social stratification” in a Sentence
Social stratification based on [factor]Social stratification in [society/era]Social stratification [verb: creates/perpetuates/reinforces]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “social stratification” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Industrialisation helped to stratify British society in new ways.
- The education system can stratify pupils by background.
American English
- The tax policy risks further stratifying American society.
- We must avoid systems that stratify people by race.
adverb
British English
- Resources are distributed stratigraphically, mirroring the social order.
American English
- The population was arranged stratifiedly for the survey sample.
adjective
British English
- A highly stratified class system was evident in Victorian Britain.
- They studied the stratified nature of access to healthcare.
American English
- The report highlighted stratified outcomes in the justice system.
- We live in an increasingly stratified economy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used directly. Might appear in analyses of workplace hierarchy or market segmentation (e.g., 'social stratification of consumer groups').
Academic
Core term in sociology, anthropology, and political science. Used to analyse systems of inequality.
Everyday
Uncommon. Might be used in educated discussion of social issues.
Technical
Precise sociological term with specific theories (e.g., Weberian vs. Marxist models of stratification).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “social stratification”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “social stratification”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “social stratification”
- Using 'social stratification' interchangeably with 'social diversity'. Stratification implies hierarchy, not just difference.
- Spelling: 'stratification' (not 'stratifiction').
- Using as a verb (to stratify) is possible, but 'social stratification' is a noun phrase.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Social inequality refers to the unequal distribution of resources. Social stratification is the structured system that creates and maintains that inequality.
Common bases include economic class (wealth/income), social status (prestige), power (political influence), and sometimes ethnicity, caste, or gender.
Most sociologists argue all complex societies have some form of stratification, though its rigidity and bases vary (e.g., caste vs. class). Truly egalitarian societies are theoretical or small-scale.
Stratification is about hierarchical ranking. Segregation is about physical or social separation of groups, which can be a consequence or reinforcement of stratification.
The division of a society into hierarchical layers based on factors like wealth, power, and status.
Social stratification is usually academic, formal, journalistic in register.
Social stratification: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsəʊʃl ˌstrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsoʊʃl ˌstrætəfəˈkeɪʃn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine society as a layered cake (strata). 'Stratification' is how the cake is divided into layers—some get more icing (resources) than others.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A GEOLOGICAL FORMATION (with strata/layers), SOCIETY IS A LADDER/HIERARCHY.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most closely associated with the concept of 'social stratification'?