Class Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Class, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Class?

History and Meaning of Class

Class refers to a subdivision of a larger group of people who share the same rights and benefits according to the law because they belong to a particular category or group. The term has its origin in the Latin word ‘classis,' which was used to represent a military division or a fleet of ships. Later, in the 18th century, the term started to be used in a socio-economic context to refer to a group of people who shared similar economic circumstances.

Examples of Class

1. In the context of a class action lawsuit, a group of people who have suffered similar damages or injuries is considered a class.
2. Children, women, and the elderly are often provided with specific benefits as they are considered to belong to particular classes in society.
3. In a school, a class may refer to a group of students studying together in the same grade level.
4. In sociology, social classes are defined based on factors such as income, education, and occupation.
5. In a software program, a class refers to a blueprint used to create specific instances of an object.

Legal Terms Similar to Class

1. Collective action: This term refers to a legal mechanism used for bringing a group of people with similar claims together in a lawsuit.
2. Demographic: It refers to the study of particular characteristics of a population, such as age, gender, and income.
3. Category: A group of similar things, such as people, animals, or objects, that share common characteristics can be referred to as a category in legal terms.