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Definition of the working class noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

the working class

noun
 
/ðə ˌwɜːkɪŋ ˈklɑːs/
 
/ðə ˌwɜːrkɪŋ ˈklæs/
 [singular + singular or plural verb]
(also the working classes [plural])
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  1. the social class whose members do not have much money or power and are usually employed to do manual work (= physical work using their hands)
    • the political party of the working class
    • The working class has/have rejected them in the elections.
    • If you were working class, going to university wasn’t even an option.
    • sections of the working class
    compare middle class, upper classTopics People in societyb1
See the working class in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee the working class in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: the working class

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