social stratum — A distinct layer or level in society based on social status, wealth, education, or other factors
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A distinct layer or level in society based on social status, wealth, education, or other factors
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈstreɪtəm/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother climbed from the lowest social stratum to become a successful entrepreneur, proving that the American Dream isn't completely dead yet.
- The professor's research revealed that people from different social strata have surprisingly different preferences for pizza toppings.
- Breaking into a higher social stratum requires more than just money; it demands cultural capital and social connections.
social stratum
NOUN[/ˈsoʊʃəl ˈstreɪtəm/]
A distinct layer or level in society based on social status, wealth, education, or other factors
The grand ballroom shows every social stratum from nobles to servants in one glance.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Both words derive from Latin. 'Social' comes from Latin 'socialis,' meaning 'of companionship or alliance,' from 'socius' (companion, ally). 'Stratum' comes from Latin 'stratum,' originally meaning 'layer' or 'bed' in geological contexts, later extended metaphorically to describe hierarchical divisions in society.
Breakdown
social- (Latin socialis, of society or companionship) + stratum (Latin stratum, a layer or level). The geological metaphor of stacked earth layers was applied to represent hierarchical divisions within social structures.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother climbed from the lowest social stratum to become a successful entrepreneur, proving that the American Dream isn't completely dead yet.”
“The professor's research revealed that people from different social strata have surprisingly different preferences for pizza toppings.”
“Breaking into a higher social stratum requires more than just money; it demands cultural capital and social connections.”
“He discovered that trying to impress people from a higher social stratum by name-dropping celebrities he'd never met was not a winning strategy.”
📚Related Words
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