The lower social or economic classes; the proletariat or working classes who have lower income and social status.
都市再開発で下層階級の住民が移転を迫られた。
Residents of the lower classes were forced to relocate due to urban redevelopment.
社会学の授業で下層階級と中産階級の違いを学んだ。
In sociology class I learned the differences between the lower classes and the middle class.
政策は下層階級の生活改善を目標にしている。
The policy aims to improve the living conditions of the lower classes.