stratified
v. C1 Advanced US //ˈstɹætəˌfaɪd// UK //stɹˈætɪfˌaɪd// strat·i·fied
v. divided into different layers or groups based on things like wealth, age, or social class. You use this to describe a society or group where people are not all the same.
v. divided into distinct layers or strata, typically based on social, economic, or educational status. Often describes a hierarchical structure where mobility between levels is limited.
The city has a highly stratified society.
In a stratified society, access to high-quality education is often determined by the wealth of the family you were born into.
The researcher noted that the population was highly stratified, with clear boundaries between the working class and the professional elite that prevented social integration.