'lower-class' originates from the English words 'lower' and 'class', where 'lower' meant 'below' and 'class' referred to a group of people with similar social status.

'lower-class' evolved from the Old English word 'hlāfweard' (loaf-ward) and the Latin word 'classis', eventually becoming the modern English term 'lower-class'.

Initially, it referred to a group of people with less wealth, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.