bourgeoisie
UK: ˌbʊəʒwɑːˈziː | US: ˌbʊrʒwɑːˈziː
n. the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production
n. (derogatory) the middle class, perceived as materialistic or conventional
The word "bourgeoisie" originates from French, derived from "bourgeois" (a medieval term for town-dwelling merchants or craftsmen, from "bourg" meaning "town"). The suffix "-ie" forms collective nouns, turning "bourgeois" into a term for the entire middle-class social stratum. Historically, it evolved from describing urban freemen in feudalism to representing the capitalist class in Marxist theory, reflecting shifts in economic power.
The bourgeoisie dominated industrial development in 19th-century Europe.
Marxist critiques argue that the bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat.
She rejected the materialism associated with the bourgeoisie.
The revolution aimed to overthrow the bourgeoisie.
His novels often satirize the values of the bourgeoisie.