earl
noun
a British nobleman of a rank below that of marquis and above that of viscount: called count for a time after the Norman conquest. The wife of an earl is a countess.
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earl
1 American
[url]
/ ɜrl /
noun
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earls
plural
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a British nobleman of a rank below that of marquis and above that of viscount: called count for a time after the Norman conquest. The wife of an earl is a countess.
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(in Anglo-Saxon England) a governor of one of the great divisions of England, including East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex.
Earl
2
American
[url]
/ ɜrl /
Or
Earle
noun
earl
British
/ ɜːl /
noun
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Female equivalent: countess. (in the British Isles) a nobleman ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
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(in Anglo-Saxon England) a royal governor of any of the large divisions of the kingdom, such as Wessex
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of earl
before 900; Middle English erl, Old English eorl; cognate with Old Saxon erl man, Old Norse jarl chieftain
Explanation
An earl is a member of the British nobility. An earl is ranked above a viscount or a baron, in case you know those titles. Earl certainly carries more clout than "Mister"! One of the ceremonial titles given to noblemen in the United Kingdom is earl. Being an earl used to come with a great deal of power and control over a certain region, including the authority to pass judgment in courts of law. While it's still prestigious to be an earl, there's less actual power involved in the position. The word itself comes from the Old English word eorl, "brave man, warrior, leader, or chief."
Vocabulary lists containing earl
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Spencer—an earl, historian and former NBC journalist—in his book “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” has again swung the spotlight back to that difficult time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
The Daily Express leads with claims from author Tom Bower that the earl is "undoubtedly" working with his nephew, the Duke of Sussex, to "damage" King Charles.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
Similarly, the earl of Peterborough's son refused both to remove his hat and to enter a plea when tried for treason in 1658.
From Science Daily ● May 7, 2026
Once, it is said, an earl stormed into Holbein’s London workshop demanding that the artist paint his portrait at once.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026
Her conversation was mostly worries that the earl would marry and have a child who would replace her as his heir.
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
Another group member is aristocrat David Lascelles, the Earl of Harewood, whose family has close links to the royal family.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
My grandfather Earl Warren wanted to campaign vigorously in 1948.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
James Earl, chief executive of Future Energy Networks, welcomed Jackdaw's approval, saying that "at a time of global instability, gas produced at home strengthens Britain's energy security".
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, admitted "his assumption was incorrect" and "apologises to Mr Morgan for this error", a statement said.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Mr. Broadwas says it fizzles out in Red Earl Wood.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Its inhabitants are those of “there will always be an England” England: stern vicars, timid curates, lords and earls, penniless titled wastrels living on allowances from their uncles, imperious aunts, upper-crust twits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2025
The tradition caught on and English colleges became diploma mills for earls and barons who never cracked a book or scribbled on parchment in their storied halls.
From Washington Times ● May 9, 2018
Magna Carta was renegotiated on four occasions within the first decade of its existence, as both the King and England's earls, bishops and barons all attempted to redefine its terms.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2014
To pass the time, Huck is telling Jim stories about “kings, and dukes, and earls, and such.”
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2012
Dukes and earls had rich rugs spread on the grass before their tents, with their shields hung up on display.
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
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