noun
bourgeoisie
boor-zhwah-ZEE/ˌbʊrʒwɑˈzi/
The middle class, especially owners of businesses and capital.
The prosperous shop owners belong to the local bourgeoisie.
Etymology
A bourgeois was originally a town dweller rather than a peasant. The collective label shifted from a town’s freemen to the middle class, and in communist usage to the capitalist class.
In context
In her book about bourgeoisie, Deidre McCloskey said
More examples
- The novel portrays the provincial bourgeoisie.
- Industrial growth increased the influence of the bourgeoisie.
- The essay contrasts the bourgeoisie with wage laborers.
Forms
bourgeoisie
bourgeois adjective — relating to the property-owning middle class
Similar words
- middle class
- Middle class is broader in everyday use; bourgeoisie often specifically concerns property and business owners.
- proletariat
- Proletariat refers to wage workers in class analysis; bourgeoisie refers to owners of capital.