petite bourgeoisie

[ puh-teet boor-zhwah-zee; French puh-teet boor-zhwa-zee ]

noun

1. the portion of the bourgeoisie having the least wealth and lowest social status; the lower middle class.

Word History and Origins

Origin of petite bourgeoisie¹

Borrowed into English from French around 1915–20

Example Sentences

Now, he seems to be trying to ensure those "petite bourgeoisie" stay in their place, J.R.

From Reuters

And the director Marcelo Martinessi, who says he was inspired by the romance between Paraguay’s petite bourgeoisie and authoritarian regimes, captured the Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature “that opens new perspectives.”

From New York Times

This tournament, thus far, has belonged not to soccer’s great aristocratic houses, but to its petite bourgeoisie.

From New York Times

It seems indeed that trying to recognise the American "service class" or the European petite bourgeoisie in today's African societies only goes so far.

From The Guardian

On the 23rd Guizot’s cabinet resigned, abandoned by the petite bourgeoisie, on whose support they thought they could depend.

From Project Gutenberg