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bourgeois — relating to the middle class, especially their perceived materialistic values and conventional attitudes

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: relating to the middle class, especially their perceived materialistic values and conventional attitudes

Pronunciation (IPA): /bʊrˈʒwɑː/

Example Sentences

  • Despite his bohemian appearance, he had very bourgeois taste in restaurants.
  • She rejected her bourgeois upbringing and became a street artist.
  • His bourgeois friends were shocked when he quit his corporate job to become a yoga instructor.

bourgeois

ADJECTIVE

[/bʊrˈʒwɑː/]

relating to the middle class, especially their perceived materialistic values and conventional attitudes

The bourgeois family shows off their new piano in the parlor.
💡 Concept

The bourgeois family shows off their new piano in the parlor.

BOURG(town) + EOIS(belonging to) — belonging(EOIS) to the wealthy BOURG(town) instead of the muddy farms, the merchants became the powerful bourgeois class.
🧠 Mnemonic

BOURG(town) + EOIS(belonging to) — belonging(EOIS) to the wealthy BOURG(town) instead of the muddy farms, the merchants became the powerful bourgeois class.

After promising her poor ma she would stay humble, she went to a luxury spa and instantly became a snobby bourgeois.
🎵 Rhyme

After promising her poor ma she would stay humble, she went to a luxury spa and instantly became a snobby bourgeois.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/bʊrˈʒwɑː/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈbʊəʒwɑː/

🌳Etymology

Rootbourgeois
Suffix--eois

Origin

From French 'bourgeois', derived from Old French 'burgeis' meaning 'citizen of a town' or 'townsman', ultimately from 'bourg' (town or borough), which comes from Germanic 'burg' meaning 'fortified town'.

Breakdown

bourg (town) + -eois/-ois (suffix denoting belonging to or characteristic of) = bourgeois (relating to town citizens or the middle class)

🎵Rhyme

bizarre
guitar
bazaar

🔗Collocations

bourgeois values
bourgeois lifestyle
petite bourgeoisie
bourgeois morality
bourgeois society

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“Despite his bohemian appearance, he had very bourgeois taste in restaurants.”

“She rejected her bourgeois upbringing and became a street artist.”

😄 Fun example

“His bourgeois friends were shocked when he quit his corporate job to become a yoga instructor.”

“The artist's work challenged bourgeois conventions about what constitutes 'proper' art.”

📚Related Words

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