Home UK English haut bourgeois

Meaning of haut bourgeois in English:

haut bourgeois

noun

(also haute bourgeois)

  • A member of the upper middle class as a social grouping; an upper-middle-class person. Also (with the and plural agreement): such people considered as a group; = "high bourgeois [adjective]". Compare "petit bourgeois", "petty bourgeois".

Pronunciation

haut bourgeois

/ˌəʊ ˈbʊəʒwɑː/ /ˌəʊ ˈbɔːʒwɑː/

adjective

(also haute bourgeois)

  • Of, belonging to, or characteristic of the upper-middle class; = "high bourgeois [adjective]". Compare "petit bourgeois", "petty bourgeois".

Pronunciation

haut bourgeois

/ˌəʊ ˈbʊəʒwɑː/ /ˌəʊ ˈbɔːʒwɑː/

Origin

Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Northern Star (Leeds). From French haut bourgeois from haut + bourgeois.