peer
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to look narrowly or searchingly, as in the effort to discern clearly.
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to peep out or appear slightly.
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to come into view.
noun
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peers
plural
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a person of the same legal status.
a jury of one's peers.
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a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status.
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something of equal worth or quality.
a skyscraper without peer.
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a nobleman.
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a member of any of the five degrees of the nobility in Great Britain and Ireland (duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron).
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Computers.
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a network connected to one or more other networks in a way that routes traffic independently between them in a direct exchange of data.
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a computer or device that is connected to others in a network, either directly or through a server.
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Archaic. a companion.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a member of a nobility; nobleman
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a person who holds any of the five grades of the British nobility: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron See also life peer
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a person who is an equal in social standing, rank, age, etc
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( as modifier )
peer pressure
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archaic a companion; mate
verb
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to look intently with or as if with difficulty
to peer into the distance
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to appear partially or dimly
the sun peered through the fog
Synonym Usage
See peep 1.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of peer1
First recorded in 1560–70; perhaps a variant of appear
Origin of peer2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English per, from Old French per, from Latin pār “equal, an equal, partner”
Explanation
A peer is someone at your own level. If you are a 10th grader, other high school students are your peers. Peer comes from the Latin par which means equal. When you are on par with someone, you are their peer. If kids your age are pressuring you to do something you don't want to do, that's peer pressure. In the sport of basketball, Michael Jordan was without peer, no one could equal his talent. When he switched to baseball, he found himself to be among peers again.
Vocabulary lists containing peer
Two-Faced Words: Contronyms
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"Of Mice and Men"
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"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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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:
I want to ask you as a peer, as an interviewer, what your experience has been in that role on the show.
From Slate ● Nov. 8, 2026
And if a writer or filmmaker wants to make a splash, tossing out an inflammatory opinion aimed at a peer is a surefire shortcut.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026
Due to funding pressures, the organisation had been considering moving its in-person peer support groups online.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
The European Central Bank is likely to follow its U.S. peer, even though higher energy costs are a worry for policymakers.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Wooden boards had been hammered haphazardly across the front, but there were gaps I could peer through.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Yet the band impressed peers such as Lou Reed and David Bowie, and signed to the major label Elektra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2026
“Overall little incremental news after all peers have already reported, but little to get excited about either.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
The committee said there was enough information for MPs and peers to vote on a way forward before the end of this year.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
“I haven’t read a review of anything aimed at me or my peers in 15 years,” Waititi captioned the post.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026
She peers under my eyelashes, capturing my gaze.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
