The term "bourgeois" refers to the middle class, particularly in the context of capitalist societies, often associated with materialistic values and conventional social norms. Historically, it has been used to describe those who own the means of production and have economic power, distinguishing them from the working class. In a broader cultural sense, "bourgeois" can imply a focus on comfort, status, and respectability, sometimes with a connotation of being overly concerned with wealth and social standing.