A stratum of society is a group of people in it who are similar in their education, income, or social status.
[formal]
It was an enormous task that affected every stratum of society. [+ of]
The rebels came overwhelmingly from the poorest strata of rural society.
Synonyms: class, group, level, station More Synonyms of stratum
2. countable noun [usually plural]
Strata are different layers of rock.
[technical]
Shale gas is methane trapped in rock strata.
More Synonyms of stratum
stratum in British English
(ˈstrɑːtəm)
nounWord forms: plural-ta (-tə) or -tums
1. (usually plural)
any of the distinct layers into which sedimentary rocks are divided
2. biology
a single layer of tissue or cells
3.
a layer of any material, esp one of several parallel layers
4.
a layer of ocean or atmosphere either naturally or arbitrarily demarcated
5.
a level of a social hierarchy that is distinguished according to such criteria as educational achievement or caste status
Derived forms
stratal (ˈstratal)
adjective
Word origin
C16: via New Latin from Latin: something strewn, from sternere to scatter
stratum in American English
(ˈstreɪtəm; ˈstrætəm)
nounWord forms: pluralˈstrata (streɪtə; ˈstrætə) or ˈstratums
1.
a horizontal layer or section of material, esp. any of several lying one upon another
; specif.,
a. Biology
a layer of tissue
b. Geology
a single layer of sedimentary rock
2.
a section, level, or division, as of the atmosphere or ocean, regarded as like a stratum
3.
any of the socioeconomic groups of a society as determined by birth, income, education, etc.
Word origin
ModL < L, a covering, blanket < stratus, pp. of sternere, to spread, stretch out, cover: for IE base see strew
Examples of 'stratum' in a sentence
stratum
This seems to extend to all strata of society.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is a standard of behaviour and manners that is recognisable in any strata of society.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The audience members spanned a surprisingly large number of age groups and social strata.
Kennedy, Douglas In God's Country: travels in the Bible belt, USA. (1989)
My books deal with people of many social strata.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
Yet it was precisely this middle position that allowed her to reach all strata of society as few others could or did.
Christianity Today (2000)
He was interested in the romance of peeling billboard signs and crisp wooden walls, layered like geological strata.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Much of what we know today about shops in the eighteenth century comes either from the higher strata of life or is sketchy at best.
Judith Flanders Consuming Passions: Leisure and Pleasure in Victorian Britain (2006)
A few social strata down they were more worried about splitting the names of dead brothers between columns in the name of symmetry.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The main task of this work is to identify the contours of this process as it has worked itself out through various strata of American society.
Kovel, Joel Red Hunting in the Promised Land: Anticommunism and the Making of America (1994)
They are from all walks of life, all social strata, they are both men and women.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
I also wanted a character who can shuttle across the various layers and social strata of a place, as a detective can.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
stratum
British English: stratum NOUN
A stratum of society is a group of people in it who are similar in their education, income, or social status.
It was an enormous task that affected every stratum of society.
American English: stratum
Brazilian Portuguese: camada
Chinese: 社会阶层
European Spanish: estrato
French: strate
German: Schicht
Italian: strato
Japanese: 階層
Korean: 계층
European Portuguese: camada
Latin American Spanish: estrato
1 (noun)
Definition
a social class
It was an enormous task that affected every stratum of society.
Synonyms
class
the relationship between different social classes
group
The recipes are divided into groups according to their main ingredients.
level
in order according to their level of difficulty
station
The vast majority knew their station in life and kept to it.
estate
a king or queen or other person of high estate
rank
Each rank of the peerage was respected.
grade
Staff turnover is high among junior grades.
category
The entries were organised into six different categories.
bracket
Do you fall outside the age bracket?
caste
socially disadvantaged lower castes
2 (noun)
Definition
any of the distinct layers into which certain rocks are divided
The rock strata show that the region was intensely dry 15,000 years ago.
Synonyms
layer
Critics and the public puzzle out the layers of meaning in his photos.
level
seam
The average UK coal seam is one metre thick.
table
bed
Heat the curry thoroughly and serve it on a bed of rice.
vein
a rich deep vein of copper in the rock
tier
an auditorium with tiers of seats around and above it
stratification
lode
Usage note
The word strata is the plural form of stratum, and should not be used as if it is a singular form: so you would say This stratum of society is often disregarded, or These strata of society are often disregarded, but not This strata of society is often disregarded.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bed
Heat the curry thoroughly and serve it on a bed of rice.
Synonyms
layer,
mass,
pile,
heap,
mound
in the sense of bracket
Definition
a group or category falling within certain defined limits
Do you fall outside the age bracket?
Synonyms
grouping,
limits,
group,
list,
range,
category,
scope,
span,
sphere,
classification,
parameters
in the sense of caste
Definition
social rank
socially disadvantaged lower castes
Synonyms
class,
order,
race,
station,
rank,
status,
stratum,
social order,
lineage
Nearby words of
stratum
strategic
strategist
strategy
stratum
stray
streak
streaky
Synonyms of 'stratum'
stratum
Explore 'stratum' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of category
Definition
a class or group of things or people with some quality or qualities in common
The entries were organised into six different categories.
Synonyms
class,
grouping,
heading,
head,
order,
sort,
list,
department,
type,
division,
section,
rank,
grade,
classification,
genre
in the sense of estate
Definition
any of the orders or classes making up a society
a king or queen or other person of high estate
Synonyms
class,
order,
rank,
caste
in the sense of grade
Definition
a rank or level of importance in a company or organization
Staff turnover is high among junior grades.
Synonyms
level,
position,
rank,
group,
order,
class,
stage,
step,
station,
category,
rung,
echelon
in the sense of group
Definition
a number of people or things considered as a unit
The recipes are divided into groups according to their main ingredients.
Synonyms
category,
class,
section,
grouping,
order,
sort,
type,
division,
rank,
grade,
classification
in the sense of level
Definition
stage or degree of progress
in order according to their level of difficulty
Synonyms
position,
standard,
degree (archaic),
grade,
standing,
stage,
rank,
status
in the sense of rank
Definition
a person's social class
Each rank of the peerage was respected.
Synonyms
class,
dignity,
caste,
nobility,
stratum
in the sense of seam
Definition
a long narrow layer of coal, marble, or ore formed between layers of other rocks
The average UK coal seam is one metre thick.
Synonyms
layer,
vein,
stratum,
lode
in the sense of station
Definition
position in society
The vast majority knew their station in life and kept to it.
Synonyms
position,
rank,
status,
standing,
post,
situation,
grade,
sphere
in the sense of tier
Definition
one of a set of rows placed one above and behind the other, such as theatre seats
an auditorium with tiers of seats around and above it