sans-grade

French

Etymology

From sans + grade.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɑ̃.ɡʁad/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

sans-grade m or f (plural sans-grades)

1. person relegated to the bottom of the social ladder
   • 1969, Georges Simenon, Maigret et le tueur [Maigret and the Killer], page 100:

     C’était un des gagne-petit de la P. J., l’un de ceux qui, faute d’une certaine instruction de base, restent des sans-grades pendant toute leur vie.

     He was one of the little men of the Criminal Police, one of those who, through the lack of a certain basic education, remain unpromoted all their lives.

Further reading

• “sans-grade”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.