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Meaning & use

classist

adjective, noun·Academicdisapproving

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UK/ˈklɑːsɪst/
US/ˈklæsɪst/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Treating people unfairly or looking down on them because of their social or economic class.

    Grammar: Describes remarks, attitudes or policies: a classist joke.

    Patterns

    • a classist remark
    • classist attitudes

    Her classist remark about people who rent offended the whole room.

    The school's dress code was criticized as classist.

    He grew up around classist assumptions about who belongs in a good college.

  2. nouncountabledisapproving

    A person who judges or mistreats others because of their social class.

    Grammar: Used as a criticism; less common than the adjective.

    Patterns

    • a classist

    Nobody wants to be called a classist, but small comments can reveal it.

    The writer accused the critic of being a classist.

    She challenged the classists in the hiring office.

Word forms

pluralclassists
comparativemore classist
superlativemost classist

Common combinations

classist attitudes
Classist attitudes can limit job opportunities.
classist assumptions
They challenged classist assumptions about students from poor areas.
classist remark
The classist remark hurt his feelings.
classist policy
Critics called the fee a classist policy.
deeply classist
The novel portrays a deeply classist society.

Synonyms and how they differ

elitist
Elitist describes someone who thinks a privileged group is better, while classist focuses on prejudice against those of lower class.
snobbish
Snobbish is about personal attitude and taste, while classist can describe whole systems or policies.
prejudiced
Prejudiced is a general term for unfair judgment, but classist names the exact basis, social class.

Opposites

egalitarianinclusive

Word family

classism noun
prejudice based on social class
class noun
a social or economic group
classless adjective
without social class divisions
racist adjective
a parallel word about race

Commonly confused: classist or classic? classist or classical?

classist vs classic

Classic means of lasting quality or typical, with no relation to discrimination. Classist is about prejudice.

classist vs classical

Classical refers to ancient Greece and Rome or to traditional styles, not to social-class prejudice.

Practice

Saying that people from poorer areas are lazy is a ___ remark.

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