Caste vs. Class: What's the Difference?
Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Published on November 8, 2023
Caste is a hereditary system determining social status, while Class refers to societal divisions based on wealth, education, or occupation.
Key Differences
Caste denotes a rigid, hereditary system of social stratification prevalent mainly in some Asian countries. Class, on the other hand, is a flexible division in societies based on economic or educational status.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
In a caste system, individuals are born into a certain caste and it usually determines their occupation, social interactions, and marriage prospects. Class, in contrast, can be more fluid; individuals can move between classes through changes in income, education, or occupation.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Caste often holds religious or cultural significance, making it deeply entrenched in the society's structure and more resistant to change. Class divisions, however, can change over time as economic conditions shift and individuals or families increase or decrease in wealth.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Traditionally, caste systems have fixed roles and duties associated with each caste. The concept of class does not prescribe specific roles or duties, but it can dictate the opportunities available to individuals based on their socioeconomic status.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 08, 2023
Caste-based discrimination has been a controversial and persistent issue in societies that recognize it. In contrast, class discrimination, often related to economic disparities, is a widespread issue found globally, irrespective of cultural or religious backgrounds.
Harlon Moss
Nov 08, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Caste and Class Definitions
Caste
A division in society based on heredity and lifelong status.
The notion of caste plays a significant role in some religions.
Janet White
Oct 26, 2023
Class
A group of people sharing similar economic circumstances.
The working class often demands better wages and working conditions.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 26, 2023
Caste
A rank or class of persons in society.
The artist belonged to a lower caste but was respected for his talents.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 26, 2023
Class
A division based on qualities, characteristics, or similarities.
The students were divided into different classes based on their skill level.
Harlon Moss
Oct 26, 2023
Caste
A distinct social category to which a person belongs, often related to birthright.
He was ostracized for marrying outside his caste.
Sara Rehman
Oct 26, 2023
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Class
A level of society representing shared economic or social status.
Economic policies can impact different classes differently.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 26, 2023
Caste
A system of rigid social stratification characterized by hereditary transmission of a way of life.
The caste dynamics in traditional societies restricted upward mobility.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 26, 2023
Class
A set, collection, group, or configuration containing members regarded as having certain attributes or traits in common; a kind or category.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
A hereditary division in societies, often associated with occupation or birth.
The caste system in India has been a topic of intense debate.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 26, 2023
Caste
Any of the hereditary, endogamous social classes or subclasses of traditional Hindu society, stratified according to Hindu ritual purity, especially the Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra castes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
A social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank, profession, or wealth.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A social stratum whose members share certain economic, social, or cultural characteristics
The lower-income classes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
The social position or status conferred by a system based on castes
Lose caste by doing work beneath one's station.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
A specialized level in a colony of social insects, such as ants, in which the members, such as workers or soldiers, carry out a specific function.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A group of students who are taught together, usually at a regularly scheduled time and in the same subject.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
Any of the hereditary social classes and subclasses of South Asian societies.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly associate with each other.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
The subject material taught to or studied by such a group
Found the math class challenging.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
(zoology) A class of polymorphous eusocial insects of a particular size and function within a colony.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
One of the hereditary classes into which the Hindu are divided according to the laws of Brahmanism.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(Biology)A taxonomic category ranking below a phylum or division and above an order.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly hold intercourse among themselves.
The tinkers then formed an hereditary caste.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
Social status or position conferred by a system based on class;
Lose caste by doing work beneath one's station
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(Linguistics)A group of words belonging to the same grammatical category that share a particular set of morphological properties, such as a set of inflections.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
(Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(Mathematics)A collection of sets whose members share a specified property.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Caste
A social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank or profession or wealth
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
To arrange, group, or rate according to qualities or characteristics; assign to a class; classify.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(countable) A group, collection, category or set sharing characteristics or attributes.
The new Ford Fiesta is set to be best in the 'small family' class.
That is one class-A heifer you got there, sonny.
Often used to imply membership of a large class.
This word has a whole class of metaphoric extensions.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A social grouping, based on job, wealth, etc. In Britain, society is commonly split into three main classes: upper class, middle class and working class.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(uncountable) The division of society into classes.
Jane Austen's works deal with class in 18th-century England.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(uncountable) Admirable behavior; elegance.
Apologizing for losing your temper, even though you were badly provoked, showed real class.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A group of students in a regularly scheduled meeting with a teacher.
The class was noisy, but the teacher was able to get their attention with a story.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A series of lessons covering a single subject.
I took the cooking class for enjoyment, but I also learned a lot.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(countable) A group of students who commenced or completed their education during a particular year. A school class.
The class of 1982 was particularly noteworthy.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(countable) A category of seats in an airplane, train or other means of mass transportation.
I used to fly business class, but now my company can only afford economy.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A rank in the classification of organisms, below phylum and above order; a taxon of that rank.
Magnolias belong to the class Magnoliopsida.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(statistics) A grouping of data values in an interval, often used for computation of a frequency distribution.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(set theory) A collection of sets definable by a shared property.
The class of all sets is not a set.
Every set is a class, but classes are not generally sets. A class that is not a set is called a proper class.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(military) A group of people subject to be conscripted in the same military draft, or more narrowly those persons actually conscripted in a particular draft.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A set of objects having the same behavior (but typically differing in state), or a template defining such a set in terms of its common properties, functions, etc.
An abstract base class
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
One of the sections into which a Methodist church or congregation is divided, supervised by a class leader.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(transitive) To assign to a class; to classify.
I would class this with most of the other mediocre works of the period.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
(transitive) To divide into classes, as students; to form into, or place in, a class or classes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A group of individuals ranked together as possessing common characteristics; as, the different classes of society; the educated class; the lower classes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A number of students in a school or college, of the same standing, or pursuing the same studies.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A comprehensive division of animate or inanimate objects, grouped together on account of their common characteristics, in any classification in natural science, and subdivided into orders, families, tribes, genera, etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A set; a kind or description, species or variety.
She had lost one class energies.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
One of the sections into which a church or congregation is divided, and which is under the supervision of a class leader.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
One session of formal instruction in which one or more teachers instruct a group on some subject. The class may be one of a course of classes, or a single special session.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A high degree of elegance, in dress or behavior; the quality of bearing oneself with dignity, grace, and social adeptness.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
To arrange in classes; to classify or refer to some class; as, to class words or passages.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
To divide into classes, as students; to form into, or place in, a class or classes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
Exhibiting refinement and high character; as, a class act. Opposite of low-class
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
People having the same social or economic status;
The working class
An emerging professional class
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A body of students who are taught together;
Early morning classes are always sleepy
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
Education imparted in a series of lessons or class meetings;
He took a course in basket weaving
Flirting is not unknown in college classes
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A collection of things sharing a common attribute;
There are two classes of detergents
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A body of students who graduate together;
The class of '97
She was in my year at Hoehandle High
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A league ranked by quality;
He played baseball in class D for two years
Princeton is in the NCAA Division 1-AA
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
Arrange or order by classes or categories;
How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Class
A division of society based on socioeconomic status.
The middle class has been facing economic challenges.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 26, 2023
Class
A category or rank used for differentiation.
He belonged to the upper class of society.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 26, 2023
FAQs
What defines class?
Class refers to societal divisions based on factors like wealth, education, or occupation.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Is caste purely an Asian phenomenon?
While most commonly associated with South Asia, especially India, similar systems have been found in other parts of the world.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Is caste only about occupation?
While often linked to occupation, caste is also deeply rooted in heritage, birth, and societal status.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Is it easy to change one's class?
Class can be fluid; individuals might move between classes due to changes in socioeconomic conditions.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
How is wealth related to class?
Wealth is a major determinant of one's class in many societies, influencing status and opportunities.
Harlon Moss
Nov 08, 2023
What is caste?
Caste is a hereditary system of social stratification, mainly found in some Asian countries.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
How does caste impact societal interactions?
Caste can determine social interactions, marriage prospects, and even occupations in certain societies.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Are there any legal measures against caste discrimination?
Many countries, like India, have introduced laws and measures to combat caste-based discrimination.
Sara Rehman
Nov 08, 2023
Can one change their caste?
Traditionally, caste is fixed by birth and cannot be changed.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Can class-based discrimination be found globally?
Yes, class-based discrimination, often related to economic disparities, is found across various societies.
Janet White
Nov 08, 2023
How does class affect political power?
Class can influence political power, with higher classes often having more influence or representation.
Harlon Moss
Nov 08, 2023
Do all societies have a caste system?
No, not all societies have a caste system. It's more prevalent in specific cultural or regional contexts.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 08, 2023
Do caste and class intersect?
In societies with caste systems, caste and class can intersect, especially where economic disparity aligns with caste divisions.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 08, 2023
How do caste and class affect individual identity?
Both can shape one's identity, self-worth, societal interactions, and opportunities.
Janet White
Nov 08, 2023
Does class have any religious significance?
Typically, class doesn't hold religious significance, but it has economic and social implications.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
How does education influence class?
Education can be a significant factor for upward mobility, influencing one's class in many societies.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 08, 2023
Can one belong to multiple classes?
While primarily belonging to one class, individuals can exhibit characteristics or lifestyles associated with other classes.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
How do modern societies view caste systems?
Modern societies often criticize and challenge caste systems for being discriminatory and unjust.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Can class systems be found in all societies?
While the nuances differ, most societies have some form of class or economic stratification.
Harlon Moss
Nov 08, 2023
Are caste and class solely economic concepts?
While class is often economic, caste is multifaceted, encompassing religion, culture, and heritage.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
