Meaning & Definition of word "Bourgeois"

Bourgeois

/ˈbʊrʒ.wɑː/

1. A member of the middle class, especially one perceived as possessing conventional values or attitudes.
- Example: As a self-proclaimed bourgeois, she prioritized stability and security over adventure.
2. In Marxist theory, the bourgeoisie refers to the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production.
- Example: The revolution aimed to dismantle the power of the bourgeois and redistribute wealth to the proletariat.

1. Relating to or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
- Example: The film critiques the bourgeois lifestyle of the main characters, highlighting their obsession with wealth and social status.
2. Marked by a concern for materialism and respectability, often at the expense of artistic or intellectual pursuits.
- Example: His bourgeois tastes in art were evident in his collection of mass-produced paintings.

Late Middle English, from Old French 'burgeis' meaning 'town dweller'.

bourgeois values:

Values that emphasize material wealth and conventionality.

bourgeois lifestyle:

A way of living that indicates middle-class status and comforts.

bourgeoisie:

The social class that is characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture.

proletariat:

The class of wage-earners in a capitalist society.

Meaning: Used to describe someone as overly concerned with material possessions.

Example Sentence: He's such a bourgeois, always bragging about his new car.

Meaning: A derogatory term for people who are perceived as dull or conventional.

Example Sentence: Their party was so bourgeois, I wanted to leave after an hour.