By Caroline McClatcheyBBC News Magazine

“Bankers”, “the rich” and “the 1%” have become part of the lexicon of a maelstrom of protest. But what do the terms really mean?

A wave of protests across the world and of more measured anger expressed in newspaper letters pages and on social networking sites have thrown up a new lexicon of resentment of the wealthy and the powerful.

But how did all these newly popular terms come to be used as they are?

“The rich”

Everyone knows someone they consider to be rich. But many would struggle with a precise definition, and plenty considered rich by others would shy away from using the term.

In his book Richistan, Wall Street Journal reporter Robert Frank concluded that “people’s definition of rich is subjective and is usually twice their current net worth”. Some people would define rich as having more money than you “need” to live, but definition of “needs” vary dramatically.

A survey of professional households by insurance firm Hiscoxsuggested an annual income of £93,000 in the UK was hard to manage on. Those polled complained of feeling broke and said they would need to earn more than £150,000 before they felt wealthy.

For some, merely owning a business means you are wealthy, regardless of whether it’s a corner shop or a multinational company. During the summer riots in England, two teenage looters explained that they were showing the police and “the rich” they could do what they wanted. But their definition of rich seemed to encompass anyone who owned a shop. “It’s the rich people, the people who have businesses,” said one.

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