class
class
Pronunciation
/klæs/.
class /klæs/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/l/ - voiced lateral approximant
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
As a Noun:
Singular: class (e.g., "The student is in her first class today." "She has a lot of class.")
Plural: classes (e.g., "I have three classes this semester." "There are many social classes.")
As a Verb:
Base form/Infinitive: class (e.g., "How would you class that type of behavior?")
Third-person singular present: classes (e.g., "He classes all modern art as rubbish.")
Present participle: classing (e.g., "They are currently classing the new specimens.")
Past tense/Past participle: classed (e.g., "He classed it as a major success." "The items were classed by color.")
As an Adjective (often in compounds or phrases):
class (as in "class act," "class trip," "class system")
classy (derived from "class," meaning stylish or elegant)
first-class, high-class, low-class, middle-class, upper-class, working-class (these are compound adjectives describing a type of class)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A group of students receiving instruction together, or the period during which such instruction is given.
Example: "The morning class on ancient history was particularly engaging."
Synonyms: lesson, seminar, lecture, course, study group, session
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; refers to a specific educational context.)
A division of society based on economic status, social standing, or shared characteristics.
Example: "The novel explored the stark differences between the upper and lower classes."
Synonyms: stratum, rank, caste, order, social level, category, group
Antonyms: (No single antonym; could imply societal equality or lack of stratification)
A group or set of things or people sharing similar characteristics, qualities, or attributes.
Example: "The botanist organized the plants into different classes based on their genetic makeup."
Synonyms: category, type, kind, sort, genre, species, division, classification
Antonyms: miscellany, assortment, jumble, mixture (implies lack of categorization)
Excellence, style, or high quality in appearance, behavior, or performance.
Example: "Despite the setback, she handled the situation with immense class."
Synonyms: elegance, sophistication, distinction, grace, quality, refinement, poise, dignity
Antonyms: vulgarity, tastelessness, boorishness, crudeness, gracelessness
Verb
To assign something or someone to a particular group, category, or division based on shared characteristics.
Example: "The curator decided to class the newly acquired artifacts by their historical period."
Synonyms: categorize, classify, group, sort, arrange, grade, rank
Antonyms: unclassify, disorganize, scramble, mix up
To consider or regard something as belonging to a particular type or having certain qualities.
Example: "Many critics class her debut novel as a masterpiece of modern literature."
Synonyms: deem, consider, regard, rate, judge, count, assess
Antonyms: disregard, overlook, dismiss
Adjective (Often used in compound forms or implying high quality)
Possessing high quality, excellent, or stylish. (Often used informally to describe something admirable.)
Example: "That was a truly class performance by the lead singer." (Informal, often used like "first-class" or "top-notch")
Synonyms: excellent, first-class, top-notch, superior, prime, quality, high-grade, classy
Antonyms: inferior, substandard, poor, low-grade, shoddy, trashy
Relating to or characteristic of a particular social or economic group. (Primarily in compound adjectives.)
Example: "The novel delves into class distinctions and social mobility."
Synonyms: social, hierarchical, societal, economic
Antonyms: (No direct antonym; refers to a characteristic of society)
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." (This opening line of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice inherently sets the stage for a novel deeply concerned with class distinctions and social maneuvering in 19th-century England.)
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (George Orwell, Animal Farm). While not explicitly using the word "class," this iconic quote from Animal Farm is a direct commentary on the emergence of a ruling class and the subversion of egalitarian ideals in a totalitarian society.
"He looked like he'd been given a good schooling, which meant he belonged to a certain class of people who didn't work with their hands." (A fictional example, demonstrating the use of "class" to denote social status and background.)
Newspapers:
"The government announced new initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between the rich and working classes." (Headline from a news article discussing socio-economic policy, often seen in publications like The New York Times or The Guardian).
"Despite recent setbacks, the athlete showed true class in his post-game interview, congratulating his opponents." (Sports section article, common in ESPN or local sports pages, using "class" to denote admirable conduct).
"Economists debate whether the rising cost of living will lead to a shrinking middle class." (Financial news analysis, regularly found in The Wall Street Journal or Financial Times).
Online Publications:
"Why the latest streaming service is a masterclass in user experience design." (Tech review on a platform like TechCrunch or Wired, using "masterclass" to signify an exemplary or instructional example).
"Beyond the algorithm: Can social media bridge the class divide or widen it?" (Opinion piece or feature article on a site like Vox or The Atlantic, discussing societal structures).
"Fitness influencer offers free online yoga classes for beginners during lockdown." (Article on a health and wellness blog, such as MindBodyGreen, using "class" in the educational sense).
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (e.g., Downton Abbey): The entire premise of Downton Abbey revolves around the intricate dynamics and strict protocols of the British aristocracy and their servants, highlighting the rigid class system of the early 20th century. Conversations frequently refer to "our class" or "their class."
Film (e.g., Parasite): Bong Joon-ho's Parasite is a powerful exploration of socio-economic class disparity in South Korea, depicting the stark contrast between the lives of the wealthy Park family and the struggling Kim family.
Music: "Working Class Hero" by John Lennon. The title itself directly uses "working class" to identify with a particular socio-economic group and challenge established norms.
Video Games (e.g., World of Warcraft): Players choose a "character class" (e.g., Warrior, Mage, Rogue) which determines their abilities, playstyle, and role within the game. This is a clear example of "class" used for categorization.
Stand-up Comedy: Comedians often use observations about "first-class" travel versus "economy class" experiences, or humorous takes on different social "classes" to draw laughs and relatable scenarios.
General Public Discourse:
"He's a real class act." (Common idiom used in everyday conversation to describe someone who behaves admirably or with integrity, often heard in sports commentary or personal praise).
"I've got a French class right after lunch." (A student telling a friend about their daily schedule).
"The new apartment complex is definitely a step up in class compared to our old place." (Someone describing an improvement in quality or living standards).
"You could just tell by the way she carried herself – pure class." (An informal remark admiring someone's elegant demeanor).
"We need to have a serious conversation about income inequality and the growing divide between different economic classes in our society." (Heard in political debates, public forums, or social commentary).
10 Famous Quotes Using Class
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think today in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today.—'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.'—Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance") - While "class" isn't explicitly in this direct quote, Emerson's transcendentalist philosophy profoundly influenced American thought and often critiqued rigid social classes and conventional thinking.
"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." (Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto)
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it." (Lord Acton, Letter to Archbishop Mandell Creighton) - This quote, though not using "class" directly, relates to the concept of power dynamics and ruling classes that Marx and others often discussed.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird) - This quote speaks to empathy and understanding beyond social or racial class boundaries, a central theme of the novel.
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (George Orwell, Animal Farm) - This is a metaphorical quote about the emergence of a ruling class despite claims of equality.
"There is no wealth but life." (John Ruskin, Unto This Last) - Ruskin was a critic of industrial society and its impact on the working class, and this quote highlights his belief in human well-being over material accumulation.
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." (Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream" speech) - While focusing on race, this quote also implies a rejection of judgment based on superficial categorizations, including social class.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." (Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizenship in a Republic" speech, also known as "The Man in the Arena") - This quote, while not directly using "class," champions effort and courage over passive criticism, often associated with a privileged or detached class.
"You want to know my name? My name is not important. What's important is what I'm going to do." (Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry, a line that reflects a certain tough, no-nonsense class of character often portrayed by Eastwood.) - This is an example of a quote from popular culture where "class" might be implicitly understood in the character's demeanor.
"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." (Often attributed to George Bernard Shaw, though the exact wording varies and its origin is debated) - This quote, while not about social class, speaks to the value of exchange and intellectual enrichment, which can transcend or elevate beyond established social classes.
Etymology
The word "class" has a rich history, primarily coming from Latin and then making its way into English through French.
Imagine ancient Rome. When the government needed to organize its citizens, especially for things like military service or taxes, they would divide them up based on how much property they owned. This system of division was called "classis" in Latin. So, the very first meaning of "classis" was about a "division" or "rank" of people, particularly in a social or military sense. It also referred to a group of citizens called to arms, or even a fleet of ships. The original sense of the Latin word was actually "summons" or "call," relating to people being called together.
Over time, this Latin "classis" found its way into Old French as "classe." When it arrived in English, around the mid-1500s (specifically 1533), it still carried that idea of a "division" or "rank," often referring to social or military groups.
Interestingly, the meaning of "class" quickly expanded. By the 16th century, it started being used to describe a group of students being taught together, which is a very common meaning we use today.
So, in simple terms:
Origin: The word "class" comes from the Latin word "classis."
First Meaning (Latin): It originally meant a "division" or "rank" of people, especially for things like taxes or military service in ancient Rome. It also referred to a group of citizens called to arms or a fleet.
Journey to English: It came into English via the Old French word "classe."
First English Use (mid-1500s): When it first appeared in English, it held onto the meaning of a "social or military rank."
Evolution: Shortly after, in the 16th century, it began to be used for a group of students taught together, which is how we often think of a "class" now.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Class
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "class":
A class act: Someone or something that is highly competent, performs excellently, and behaves with dignity and integrity.
Top-class: Of the highest quality or standard; excellent.
First-class: Excellent; of the highest quality or standard (can also refer to a travel category).
In a class of one's own: To be uniquely excellent or superior, having no equal.
To go to class: To attend a lesson or lecture at a school or university.
Class struggle: (Sociology/Marxism) The conflict of interests between different social classes.
Ruling class: The social class that controls the economic and political power in a society.
Working class: The social class of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial occupations.
Middle class: The social class between the upper and working classes, including professional and business people and their families.
Upper class: The social class at the highest level of a society, often associated with wealth and inherited privilege.
To skip class: To intentionally miss a scheduled lesson or lecture without permission.
To cut class: (Similar to "to skip class") To be absent from a scheduled lesson or lecture without permission.
Class clown: A student in a class who frequently makes jokes or acts foolishly to entertain others.
Class dismissed: A phrase used by a teacher to indicate that a lesson is over and students may leave.
Sense of class: An appreciation for elegance, quality, and proper conduct; having good taste.
No class: Lacking elegance, sophistication, or proper manners; vulgar.
Class war: (Similar to class struggle) Intense conflict between social classes.
To make the class laugh: To entertain or amuse the entire group of students during a lesson.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of class from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
