bourgeoisie

[ boo r-zhwah-zee; French boor-zhwa-zee ]
/ ˌbʊər ʒwɑˈzi; French bur ʒwaˈzi /

noun

the bourgeois class.
(in Marxist theory) the class that, in contrast to the proletariat or wage-earning class, is primarily concerned with property values.

Origin of bourgeoisie

From French, dating back to 1700–10; see origin at bourgeois1, -y3

Example sentences from the Web for bourgeoisie

British Dictionary definitions for bourgeoisie

bourgeoisie
/ (ˌbʊəʒwɑːˈziː) /

noun the bourgeoisie

the middle classes
(in Marxist thought) the ruling class of the two basic classes of capitalist society, consisting of capitalists, manufacturers, bankers, and other employers. The bourgeoisie owns the most important of the means of production, through which it exploits the working class

Cultural definitions for bourgeoisie

bourgeoisie
[ (boor-zhwah-zee) ]

In general, the middle class. Applied to the Middle Ages, it refers to townspeople, who were neither nobles nor peasants. In Marxism it refers to those who control the means of production and do not live directly by the sale of their labor. Karl Marx (see also Marx) distinguished between the “haute” (high) bourgeoisie (industrialists and financiers) and the “petite” (small or “petty”) bourgeoisie (shopkeepers, self-employed artisans, lawyers). Marxism postulates a fundamental conflict between the interests of the bourgeoisie and those of the propertyless workers, the proletariat (see also proletariat).

notes for bourgeoisie

“Bourgeois” may also refer to mediocre taste or to the flashy display of wealth by the nouveau riche.