class struggle

This term is heavily associated with Marxist theory and socialist political discourse, carrying a strong ideological connotation. It describes a systemic, structural conflict rather than a series of isolated disputes, framing social history as a progression driven by the tension between those who own the means of production and those who provide the labor.

In contemporary usage, the term may be used literally in academic or political contexts to discuss socioeconomic inequality. However, it is occasionally used ironically or metaphorically in casual conversation to describe any perceived conflict between different social strata or professional hierarchies.