petty bourgeoisien.
/ˌpɛtɪ ˌbʊəʒwɑːˈziː/, /ˌpɛtɪ ˌbɔːʒwɑːˈziː/, U.S. /ˈˌpɛdi ˌbʊrˌʒwɑˈzi/ The lower-middle classes collectively; = petite bourgeoisie n.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > [noun] > middle class or bourgeoisie
burgessy1533
menalty1548
middle class1654
middling class1745
middling1751
bourgeoise1769
bourgeoisie1774
petite bourgeoisie1846
petty bourgeoisie1850
middling interest1857
upper middle class1864
middle-middle-class1886
well-heeled1897
small bourgeoisie1970
1850 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Apr. 436 The petty bourgeoisie..are reduced to follow the revolutionary march of the proletarians.
1850 Red Republican 16 Nov. 171/1 The petty Bourgeoisie, the inferior ranks of the middle-class, the small manufacturers, merchants, tradesmen, and farmers, tend to become Proletarians.
1920 F. E. Green Hist. Eng. Agric. Labourer v. 125 The farmers and the petty bourgeoisie took possession of the Parish and the Rural District Councils.
1956 C. W. Mills Power Elite xiv. 329 Classic conservatism has required the spell of tradition among such surviving elements of pre-industrial societies as an aristocracy of noble men, a peasantry, a petty-bourgeoisie with guild inheritances.
1997 Times Lit. Suppl. 23 May 7/2 Educated by French nuns, she could have entered the ranks of the petty bourgeoisie, but rather she chooses to become a market woman.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1850