lower class

/ˌˈloʊər ˌklæs/

/ˈlʌʊə klɑs/

Other forms: lower classes

In the US, the term lower class generally means the group of people who work for a low hourly wage. The working poor, manual laborers, and service industry workers all might be considered part of the lower class.

Some people might be offended at being labelled lower class; working class is a more acceptable way to refer to this low-paid group. There are different ways to divide groups of people by income, but some estimates put the size of the lower class at about 25 percent of all Americans. Some members of the lower class are unemployed.

Definitions of lower class

1. noun

   the social class lowest in the social hierarchy
   synonyms: underclass

   type of:

   class, social class, socio-economic class, stratum

   people having the same social, economic, or educational status