Middle class

thumb|La sortie du bourgeois, painted by Jean Béraud (1889) The bourgeoisie are a class of business owners, merchants and wealthy people, in general, which emerged in the Late Middle Ages, originally as a "middle class" between the peasantry and aristocracy. They are traditionally contrasted with the proletariat by their wealth, political power, and education, as well as their access to and control of cultural, social, and financial capital.

class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy

social class

The yeoman social class of medieval and early modern England ranks between the peasantry and the landed gentry. The class was first documented in mid-14th century England, where it included people who cultivated their own land as well as the middle ranks of servants in an English royal or noble household.

social group constituted by higher status members of the middle class

social class