underclass

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un·der·class

 (ŭn′dər-klăs′)
n.
The lowest societal stratum, usually composed of the disadvantaged: "Divorced women and their children are becoming a new underclass" (Barbara Fisher Williamson).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

underclass

(ˈʌndəˌklɑːs)
n
(Sociology) a class beneath the usual social scale consisting of the most disadvantaged people, such as the unemployed in inner cities
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

un•der•class

(ˈʌn dərˌklæs, -ˌklɑs)

n.
a social stratum consisting of persons living in persistent poverty and social isolation.
[1915–20]
usage: See collective noun.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

underclass

The lowest level in a society, consisting largely of the disadvantaged or permanently unemployed.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.underclass - the social class lowest in the social hierarchy
lower class
social class, socio-economic class, stratum, class - people having the same social, economic, or educational status; "the working class"; "an emerging professional class"
Adj.1.underclass - belonging to the lowest and least privileged social stratumunderclass - belonging to the lowest and least privileged social stratum; "underclass mothers and children"
underprivileged - lacking the rights and advantages of other members of society
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

underclass

[ˈʌndəklɑːs] N → clase f inferior
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

underclass

[ˈʌndərklɑːs] n → quart-monde m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

underclass

[ˈʌndəˌklɑːs] n → sottoproletariato
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
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References in periodicals archive ?
In the short term, a minimum price of say pounds 100 per unit would genuinely deter all but the idle rich who, like the underclasses, are not of major benefit to society and can be considered similarly expendable.
Banning alcohol is best solution; Views of the North
Reed, Rogue Performances: Staging the Underclasses in Early American Theatre Culture.
Peter P. Reed, Rogue Performances: Staging the Underclasses in Early American Theatre Culture
He's traveled the world to document how similar underclasses were created by large entities like World Bank, and FLAT BROKE IN THE FREE MARKET: HOW GLOBALIZATION FLEECED WORKING PEOPLE offers damning evidence of the rituals and results of a free global economy.
Flat Broke in the Free Market

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