classless

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁-der.

Proto-Italic *klāssis

Latin classisder.

Middle French classebor.

English class

Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁-

Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der.

Proto-Germanic *leusaną

Proto-Germanic *lausaz

Proto-Germanic *-lausaz

Proto-West Germanic *-laus

Old English -lēas

Middle English -les

English -less

English classless

From class + -less.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈklæsləs/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æsləs

Adjective

classless (comparative more classless, superlative most classless)

1. Not divided into societal or economic groups.

   We lived in a classless state, where all were equal.

   • 1971, “Working Class Hero”, in John Lennon (lyrics), John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band, performed by John Lennon:

     And you think you're so clever and classless and free / But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see

   • 1989, L[eften] S[tavros] Stavrianos, Lifelines from Our Past: A New World History, New York: Pantheon Books, →ISBN, page 225:

     They had anticipated the “withering away” of a state that has only become more controlling and omnipotent. They had planned to replace a class society with a classless society, and yet seemed only to give class a fresh lease on life.

2. Without class or classes.

   I arranged my timetable so that Friday would be a classless day.

3. Lacking in "class", style, aplomb, etc.

Derived terms

• classlessly
• classlessness

Translations

not divided into societal or economic groups

• Azerbaijani: sinifsiz
• Czech: beztřídní
• Finnish: luokaton (fi)
• German: klassenlos (de)
• Greek: αταξικός (el) (ataxikós)
• Hindi: वर्गहीन (vargahīn)
• Polish: bezklasowy (pl), aklasowy
• Swedish: klasslös (sv)

without classes

• Finnish: vapaa (fi) (free)

lacking in class, style, etc.

• Finnish: tyylitön (fi)