STRATUM Definition & Meaning

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stratum

[ strey-tuhm, strat-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural strata stratums.

a layer of material, naturally or artificially formed, often one of a number of parallel layers one upon another:
a stratum of ancient foundations.
one of a number of portions or divisions likened to layers or levels:
an allegory with many strata of meaning.
Geology. a single bed of sedimentary rock, generally consisting of one kind of matter representing continuous deposition.
Biology. a layer of tissue; lamella.
Ecology. (in a plant community) a layer of vegetation, usually of the same or similar height.
a layer of the ocean or the atmosphere distinguished by natural or arbitrary limits.
Sociology. a level or grade of a people or population with reference to social position, education, etc.:
the lowest stratum of society.
Linguistics. (in stratificational grammar) a major subdivision of linguistic structure. Compare level ( def 17 ).

stratum

/ ˈ��ٰ�ɑː��ə�� /

noun

usually plural any of the distinct layers into which sedimentary rocks are divided
biology a single layer of tissue or cells
a layer of any material, esp one of several parallel layers
a layer of ocean or atmosphere either naturally or arbitrarily demarcated
a level of a social hierarchy that is distinguished according to such criteria as educational achievement or caste status

stratum

/ ��ٰ��′��ə��,��ٰ�ă��′ə�� /

, Plural strata

A layer of sedimentary rock whose composition is more or less the same throughout and that is visibly different from the rock layers above and below it.
A layer of tissue, as of the skin or another organ.

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Usage Note

Strata, historically the plural of stratum, is occasionally used as a singular: The lowest economic strata consists of the permanently unemployable. Less frequently, a plural stratas occurs: Several stratas of settlement can be seen in the excavation. At present, these uses are not well established, and they are condemned in usage guides. Strata may eventually become part of a group of borrowed plurals that are now used as singulars in English, such as agenda and candelabra, but it is not yet in that category. agenda, criterion, media, phenomena.

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Derived Forms

ˈ��ٰ��ٲ��, adjective

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��ٰ��t�ǳܲ� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of stratum¹

1590–1600; < Latin ��ٰ��tum literally, a cover, noun use of neuter of ��ٰ��tus, past participle of sternere to spread, strew, equivalent to ��ٰ��- variant stem + -tus past participle suffix

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of stratum¹

C16: via New Latin from Latin: something strewn, from sternere to scatter

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They seemed unbeatable — until good people from all strata of society rose up.

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Simply put, only a certain stratum of Americans prioritize learning about politics.

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For one, the migrants are not from the lowest economic strata.

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According to exit polls, the only economic stratum that Harris clearly won was people with household incomes above $100,000.

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But that is the brutal nature of professional golf in the strata below those chasing major titles and Ryder Cup berths.

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