underclass

[ uhn-der-klas, -klahs ]
/ ˈʌn dərˌklæs, -ˌklɑs /

noun

a social stratum consisting of impoverished persons with very low social status.

Origin of underclass

First recorded in 1915–20; under- + class

usage note for underclass

Example sentences from the Web for underclass

British Dictionary definitions for underclass

underclass
/ (ˈʌndəˌklɑːs) /

noun

a class beneath the usual social scale consisting of the most disadvantaged people, such as the unemployed in inner cities