Noun: petit bourgeois (petits bourgeois) pu'tee(t),bûzh'waa or 'pe-tee,bûr'zhwaa or 'pe-tee'bûr,zhwaa [N. Amer], 'pe-tee,bor'zhwaa or pe'tee'bûr,zhwaa [Brit]
- Lower middle class (shopkeepers and clerical staff etc.)
"The petit bourgeois often aspired to climb the social ladder";
- petite bourgeoisie, petty bourgeoisie
- A member of the lower middle class
"The petit bourgeois shopkeeper aspired to move up in social status"
Derived forms: petits bourgeois
Type of: bourgeois, bourgeoisie, burgher, middle class
Encyclopedia: Petit bourgeois