The bourgeoisie (say “boor-zhwah-ZEE”) is the middle and upper-middle class of society, especially people who own businesses, property, or significant wealth. The word comes from French history, where it originally meant townspeople who weren't nobles but weren't poor laborers either: they were merchants, bankers, lawyers, and shop owners who made their living through trade and professional work rather than farming or manual labor.

In the 1800s, as factories and cities grew during the Industrial Revolution, the bourgeoisie became more powerful and wealthy. They owned the factories, stores, and businesses, while workers (called the proletariat) worked for wages. This distinction became central to how people thought about social classes and economic systems.

Today, when people use the word bourgeoisie, they're often talking about middle-class values and lifestyles: owning property, valuing education and financial security, and enjoying comfortable lives. Sometimes the word carries a critical tone, suggesting people who are too focused on money and status, or who have conventional, predictable tastes. You might hear someone describe a fancy coffee shop or expensive neighborhood as bourgeois (the adjective form), meaning it caters to wealthy, conventional tastes.

The word matters in history books and discussions about economics, class, and social change. Understanding it helps you make sense of historical movements and ongoing conversations about wealth, work, and society.