Bourgeoisie

noun (usually with "the"; functions as a collective noun)

/ˌbʊəʒ.wɑːˈziː/

The social class that owns the means of production in a capitalist society; more broadly, the urban middle class of merchants, manufacturers, and professionals who rose to economic and political prominence during the Industrial Revolution.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

Critics of liberalisation argued that the post-1991 reforms disproportionately enriched an urban bourgeoisie, even as the rural poor remained tethered to an informal economy untouched by the new prosperity.

Synonyms

middle classpropertied classcapitalist classburghersbourgeois classmoneyed class

Antonyms

proletariatworking classpeasantryaristocracy

🌱 Word Family

bourgeoisie (n), bourgeois (n/adj), petite bourgeoisie (n compound), embourgeoisement (n)

🔡 Root

French bourgeoisie, from bourgeois = townspeople; Old French bourg = market town; Frankish burg = fortified town

📜 Etymology

From French bourgeoisie, from bourgeois ("townspeople"), derived from Old French borgeis ("town dweller"), from bourg ("market town"), ultimately from Old Frankish burg ("fortified town").

🧠 Memory Hook

Hear "BURG" hiding inside it: a bourgeoisie is the class of the BURG (town) -- the propertied town-dwellers, not the peasants in the fields.

🏛️ History & Culture 📖 Seen in: Industrial Revolution & American Revol...

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