underclasses

英

美 [ˈʌndərˌklæsɪz]

n.  社会底层; 贫困阶层
underclass的复数

柯林斯词典

• N-COUNT 下层社会；社会底层
  A country'sunderclassconsists of those members of its population who are poor, and who have little chance of improving their situation.
  1. The basic problems of the inner-city underclass are inadequate housing and lack of jobs...
     老城区底层人群面临的基本问题是住房紧张和就业不足。
  2. Welfare has become identified with the long-term poor, the underclass.
     福利已经与长期贫困的下层社会联系在了一起。