noblesse oblige

American  

[noh-bles oh-bleezh, naw-bles aw-bleezh] / noʊˈblɛs oʊˈbliʒ, nɔˈblɛs ɔˈbliʒ /

noun

1. the moral obligation of those of high birth, powerful social position, etc., to act with honor, kindliness, generosity, etc.

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noblesse oblige British  

/ nəʊˈblɛs əʊˈbliːʒ, nɔblɛs ɔbliʒ /

noun

1. ironic the supposed obligation of nobility to be honourable and generous

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noblesse oblige Cultural  

1. The belief that the wealthy and privileged are obliged to help those less fortunate. From French, meaning “nobility obligates.”

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Etymology

Origin of noblesse oblige

First recorded in 1830–40; from French: literally, “nobility obliges”

Example Sentences

Mr. Broderick, himself a sometime movie star, brings a slyly funny air of noblesse oblige that dovetails amusingly with Jay’s pompous, blinkered dimness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

His noblesse oblige masked a steely newsman who stood by his publication and industry whenever they were under attack.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2023

It's the "noblesse oblige" posturing of 19th-century industrialists, who pretended that building a few museums made up for grinding underpaid workers into dust.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2023

To offset this, there's been a tradition of "noblesse oblige" on the part of America's wealthiest dynasties.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2022

Remote cousins and family friends whom mere acquaintanceship invested with a sort of blood obligation noblesse oblige.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner