class-conscious
UK[ˌklɑːs ˈkɒnʃəs]US[ˌklæs ˈkɑːnʃəs]
adj
aware of belonging to a particular social class and of the differences between social classes
adj
believing that social classes and the differences between them are important
Morpheme Breakdown
class
conscious
class
social rank
conscious
aware
Etymology
the term is a modern english compound, formed in the late 19th to early 20th century during a period of heightened social and economic analysis. the first element, 'class', derives from the latin 'classis', which originally referred to a summoning or division of the roman people, later evolving to denote a rank or order in society. the second element, 'conscious', stems from latin 'conscius', a compound of 'com-' (with) and 'scire' (to know), literally meaning 'knowing together' or 'sharing knowledge'. when combined, the literal meaning 'aware of class' directly reflects the modern sociological concept of being cognizant of one's own social position and the class-based structures of society.
Analysis
Structure: class (social rank) + conscious (aware)
class (from latin 'classis', a division or category of people, functional role: noun base). conscious (from latin 'conscius', meaning 'knowing with others or in oneself', functional role: adjective-forming element meaning 'aware of').
Examples
the novel portrays a deeply class-conscious society where manners and accent define your opportunities.
he became more class-conscious after studying the economic disparities in his city.
her class-conscious attitudes sometimes made her uncomfortable at social events that mixed different backgrounds.