aristocracy of labour

A form of labour aristocracy — Segment of the working class that enjoys a relatively privileged position compared to the rest of the working class as a result of higher salaries, better working conditions, etc., and which can lead them to have different interests and perspectives even though they continue to be exploited by capitalists.

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Meanings

nounaristocracy of labour (plural aristocracies of labour)

plural aristocracies of labour · alternative labour aristocracy · alternative labor aristocracy · alternative aristocracy of labor

  1. alternativeAlternative form of labour aristocracy.

    One of the possibilities they [Jonathan Gershuny and Ray Pahl] see is of a dual labour market: a high-pay, high technology, aristocracy of labour and a low-wage, low-skill sector, and beyond both the mafiosi of big bosses and little crooks.

    1996, Colin Ward, “Anarchy and a Plausible Future”, in Anarchy in Action, 2nd edition, page 16
    1 more example

    Эта рабочая аристократия, имевшая тогда сносные заработки, замкнулась в узкие, своекорыстно-цеховые, союзы, отделившись от массы пролетариата и будучи в политике на стороне либеральной буржуазии.

    1973 [1913], Vladimir Lenin, Гарри Квелч (В. И. Ленин – Полное собрание сочинений), volume 23, page 439; English translation from George Hanna, transl., Harry Quelch (V. I. Lenin – Collected Works), volume 19, translation of original in Russian, 1977, page 370
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APA

aristocracy of labour. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aristocracy%20of%20labour

MLA

“aristocracy of labour.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aristocracy%20of%20labour. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aristocracy of labour,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aristocracy%20of%20labour.

Source: aristocracy of labour on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.