underclass

noun

un·​der·​class ˈən-dər-ˌklas How to pronounce underclass (audio)
: the lowest social stratum usually made up of disadvantaged minority groups

Examples of underclass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But her penchant for reckoning with the pain of the American underclass meant some of her songs touched on stories that contemporary country radio was reluctant to promote. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 Giving a wild animal a name raises it above the level of a biological underclass. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Trump’s executive order would have created a permanent underclass of people who have always called this country home. — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Resolving immigration casework backlogs, from both asylum and work visas, would be good for the economy by bringing in highly skilled workers and removing an underclass of undocumented workers. — Linh Tat, Oc Register, 5 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for underclass

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underclass was in 1863

Rhymes for underclass

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Browse Nearby Words

underchurched
underclass
underclassman
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Cite this Entry

“Underclass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underclass. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on underclass

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about underclass

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