C1 · Advanced

Society & Class — C1 English Vocabulary

This C1 vocabulary list gathers 60 advanced English words about society & class — status, structure and social forces. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. bourgeoisie/ˌbʊə.ʒwɑːˈziː/

    “The bourgeoisie grew rich.”

  2. proletariat/ˌprəʊ.lɪˈteə.ri.ət/

    “The proletariat had no land.”

  3. gentry/ˈdʒen.tri/

    “The local gentry owned estates.”

  4. stratification/ˌstræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

    “Social stratification is sharp.”

  5. meritocracy/ˌmer.ɪˈtɒk.rə.si/

    “They believe in meritocracy.”

  6. egalitarian/ɪˌɡæl.ɪˈteə.ri.ən/

    “It is an egalitarian society.”

  7. social mobility/ˌsəʊ.ʃəl məʊˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

    “Social mobility has stalled.”

  8. upward/ˈʌp.wəd/

    “She made an upward move.”

  9. downtrodden/ˈdaʊn.trɒd.ən/

    “The downtrodden had no voice.”

  10. affluent/ˈæf.lu.ənt/

    “They live in an affluent suburb.”

  11. deprived/dɪˈpraɪvd/

    “It is a deprived area.”

  12. disparity/dɪˈspær.ɪ.ti/

    “Income disparity is widening.”

  13. polarisation/ˌpəʊ.lər.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

    “Political polarisation grew.”

  14. marginalised/ˈmɑː.dʒɪn.əl.aɪzd/

    “Marginalised groups need support.”

  15. ostracise/ˈɒs.trə.saɪz/

    “They tried to ostracise him.”

  16. conformity/kənˈfɔː.mɪ.ti/

    “Society demands conformity.”

  17. nonconformist/ˌnɒn.kənˈfɔː.mɪst/

    “She is a proud nonconformist.”

  18. subjugation/ˌsʌb.dʒəˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

    “Years of subjugation followed.”

  19. emancipate/ɪˈmæn.sɪ.peɪt/

    “Reforms aim to emancipate workers.”

  20. elitism/ɪˈliː.tɪ.zəm/

    “He was accused of elitism.”

  21. privilege/ˈprɪv.əl.ɪdʒ/

    “It was a sign of privilege.”

  22. status quo/ˌsteɪ.təs ˈkwəʊ/

    “They defend the status quo.”

  23. mores/ˈmɔː.reɪz/

    “Social mores change slowly.”

  24. zeitgeist/ˈzaɪt.ɡaɪst/

    “The film captured the zeitgeist.”

  25. demographics/ˌdem.əˈɡræf.ɪks/

    “The demographics are shifting.”

  26. gentrification/ˌdʒen.trɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

    “Gentrification pushed out locals.”

  27. metropolitan/ˌmet.rəˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/

    “It is a metropolitan area.”

  28. parochial/pəˈrəʊ.ki.əl/

    “His outlook is parochial.”

  29. insular/ˈɪn.sjə.lə/

    “The village is insular.”

  30. collective/kəˈlek.tɪv/

    “They made a collective decision.”

  31. individualism/ˌɪn.dɪˈvɪdʒ.u.ə.lɪ.zəm/

    “American individualism is famous.”

  32. fraternity/frəˈtɜː.nɪ.ti/

    “There is a sense of fraternity.”

  33. clan/klæn/

    “Loyalty to the clan is strong.”

  34. tribe/traɪb/

    “The tribe has ancient customs.”

  35. caste/kɑːst/

    “The caste system shaped society.”

  36. patriarch/ˈpeɪ.tri.ɑːk/

    “The old patriarch ruled the family.”

  37. matriarch/ˈmeɪ.tri.ɑːk/

    “The matriarch made all decisions.”

  38. patriarchy/ˈpeɪ.tri.ɑː.ki/

    “Critics attack the patriarchy.”

  39. feminist/ˈfem.ɪ.nɪst/

    “She is a noted feminist.”

  40. suffragette/ˌsʌf.rəˈdʒet/

    “The suffragette demanded the vote.”

  41. emancipated/ɪˈmæn.sɪ.peɪ.tɪd/

    “Women became more emancipated.”

  42. underrepresented/ˌʌn.də.rep.rɪˈzen.tɪd/

    “They are underrepresented in law.”

  43. cohesive/kəʊˈhiː.sɪv/

    “It is a cohesive community.”

  44. fragmentation/ˌfræɡ.menˈteɪ.ʃən/

    “Social fragmentation worries leaders.”

  45. alienation/ˌeɪ.li.əˈneɪ.ʃən/

    “He felt deep alienation.”

  46. civic/ˈsɪv.ɪk/

    “She has a strong civic sense.”

  47. populace/ˈpɒp.jə.ləs/

    “The populace demanded change.”

  48. citizenry/ˈsɪt.ɪ.zən.ri/

    “The citizenry turned out to vote.”

  49. underdog/ˈʌn.də.dɒɡ/

    “Everyone roots for the underdog.”

  50. nouveau riche/ˌnuː.vəʊ ˈriːʃ/

    “He is dismissed as nouveau riche.”

  51. aristocrat/ˈær.ɪ.stə.kræt/

    “She married an aristocrat.”

  52. plutocracy/pluːˈtɒk.rə.si/

    “Critics call it a plutocracy.”

  53. social fabric/ˌsəʊ.ʃəl ˈfæb.rɪk/

    “Trust holds the social fabric together.”

  54. cohort/ˈkəʊ.hɔːt/

    “A new cohort enrolled.”

  55. peer pressure/ˈpɪə ˌpreʃ.ə/

    “Teenagers face peer pressure.”

  56. ostracism/ˈɒs.trə.sɪ.zəm/

    “He feared social ostracism.”

  57. milieu/ˈmiː.ljɜː/

    “She thrived in that milieu.”

  58. social contract/ˌsəʊ.ʃəl ˈkɒn.trækt/

    “It breaks the social contract.”

  59. philanthropist/fɪˈlæn.θrə.pɪst/

    “A philanthropist funded the school.”

  60. societal/səˈsaɪ.ə.təl/

    “It is a societal problem.”