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bourgeoisie

boor-zhwah-ZEE /ˌbʊər.ʒwɑːˈziː/

nounC1GREUPSC

academicformal

The social class that owns the means of production; the middle or upper class characterized by commercial interests and material property.

In Marxist thought, it denotes owners of capital who profit from hired labor; in broader cultural contexts, it can mock conventional middle-class materialism.

The story behind the word. Originally, a 'bourgeois' was simply an inhabitant of a medieval French 'bourg' or walled town. Unlike rural peasants or feudal lords, town dwellers earned their livelihoods through trade, crafts, and banking. Over time, as mercantile wealth surpassed feudal land ownership, the term came to define the dominant capitalist ruling class.

Word relationships

capitalist class: 'Capitalist class' focuses strictly on economic ownership, whereas 'bourgeoisie' encompasses cultural attitudes and social status.
middle class: 'Middle class' is a descriptive sociological layer, whereas 'bourgeoisie' carries analytical, economic, and political weight.

proletariat: The proletariat owns no capital and relies on selling labor to the capital-owning bourgeoisie.

Commonly confused with

proletariat: Bourgeoisie refers to capital owners; proletariat refers to wage laborers.

Word family

bourgeois (adjective): Characteristic of the middle class, often with conventional or materialistic values.

Collocations

petty bourgeoisie
grand bourgeoisie
bourgeoisie values
rise of the bourgeoisie

Example sentences

"The petty bourgeoisie prioritized conventional respectability and property ownership above artistic innovation." Critique of consumerist culture and societal norms.
"Marx argued that the bourgeoisie would inevitably come into conflict with the growing industrial working class." Historical analysis of political revolutions.

Memory hook

Bourgeoisie sound like 'BOO-zhwee'—picture rich merchant burgers eating fancy cheese in their town castle. Burg-dwellers buying business assets.

When not to use

Avoid using it simply as a synonym for 'wealthy elite' like royalty or feudal nobility, who held land by birthright rather than capital ownership.

Fun facts

In modern internet slang, 'bourgeoisie' is shortened to 'bourgie' or 'boujee' to describe expensive, trendy lifestyles.