noble

American  

[noh-buhl] / ˈnoʊ bəl /

adjective

nobler, noblest

1. distinguished by rank or title.

2. pertaining to persons so distinguished.

3. of, belonging to, or constituting a hereditary class that has special social or political status in a country or state; of or pertaining to the aristocracy.

   Synonyms:

   blue-blooded, patrician, aristocratic, highborn

   Antonyms:

   bourgeois, middle-class, working-class, lower-class, common, lowborn, baseborn

4. of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence.

   a noble thought.

   Synonyms:

   worthy, estimable, honorable, magnanimous, principled, high-minded, elevated, lofty, meritorious

   Antonyms:

   common, vulgar, base, ignoble

5. admirable in dignity of conception, manner of expression, execution, or composition.

   a noble poem.

   Synonyms:

   august, dignified, grand

   Antonyms:

   unrespected, disreputable, undignified

6. very impressive or imposing in appearance.

   a noble monument.

   Synonyms:

   imperial, regal, impressive, splendid, imposing, magnificent, stately, grand, majestic, lordly

   Antonyms:

   ordinary, plain, modest, paltry, mean, insignificant

7. of an admirably high quality; notably superior; excellent

   Synonyms:

   exceptional, exemplary, outstanding, notable, noteworthy

   Antonyms:

   unexceptional, ordinary, inferior

8. famous; illustrious; renowned.

   Synonyms:

   distinguished, celebrated, famed

   Antonyms:

   obscure, unknown, remarkable

9. Chemistry. inert; chemically inactive.

10. Falconry. (of a hawk) having excellent qualities or abilities.

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noun

nobles plural

1. a person of noble birth or rank; nobleman or noblewoman.

   Synonyms:

   patrician, blue blood, aristocrat, peer

   Antonyms:

   peasant, serf, commoner

2. a former gold coin of England, first issued in 1346 by Edward III, equal to half a mark or 6s. 8d., replaced in 1464 under Edward IV by the rose noble.

3. (in Britain) a peer.

noble British  

/ ˈnəʊbəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a hereditary class with special social or political status, often derived from a feudal period

2. of or characterized by high moral qualities; magnanimous

   a noble deed

3. having dignity or eminence; illustrious

4. grand or imposing; magnificent

   a noble avenue of trees

5. of superior quality or kind; excellent

   a noble strain of horses

6. chem

   1. (of certain elements) chemically unreactive

   2. (of certain metals, esp copper, silver, and gold) resisting oxidation

7. falconry

   1. designating long-winged falcons that capture their quarry by stooping on it from above Compare ignoble

   2. designating the type of quarry appropriate to a particular species of falcon

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noun

1. a person belonging to a privileged social or political class whose status is usually indicated by a title conferred by sovereign authority or descent

2. (in the British Isles) a person holding the title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron, or a feminine equivalent

3. a former Brit gold coin having the value of one third of a pound

Synonym Usage

Noble, high-minded, magnanimous agree in referring to lofty principles and loftiness of mind or spirit. Noble implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable: a noble deed. High-minded implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them: a high-minded pursuit of legal reforms. Magnanimous suggests greatness of mind or soul, especially as manifested in generosity or in overlooking injuries: magnanimous toward his former enemies.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nobleness
  noun
• overnobleness
  noun
• nonnoble
  adjective
• overnoble
  adjective
• pseudonoble
  adjective
• nobly
  adverb
• overnobly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nobles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of noble

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin (g)nōbilis “notable, of high rank,” equivalent to (g)nō-, root of (g)nōscere “to get to know, find out” + -bilis adjective suffix; see origin at know ¹, -ble

Explanation

A noble is a titled peer of the realm or an aristocrat. As an adjective, noble describes someone with high or elevated character, or who is impressive in appearance. From feudal times, we have known nobles as the heirs to thrones or as the holders of aristocratic title. British aristocracy, for example, produces many people of various noble titles, including dukes, earls, princes, kings, and queens. As various royal histories tell us, however, many of these nobles in title weren't quite so noble in character.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

noble nobles nobler noblest

Argentina: “Hear the sound of broken chains/See noble equality enthroned.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Retiring at 60 is noble, but your Medicare does not kick in until you are 65.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026

Such a noble flavor combo deserved permanent shelf space.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

The noble gas—completely colorless, odorless, and tasteless—is used in rocket propulsion.

From Barron's ● May 28, 2026

“Then,” said Taran, with hesitation, “I offer you Lluagor. She is a noble animal.”

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander

English lands were handed over the Norman nobles.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

In the Middle Ages, William the Conqueror took control of England's land and granted parts of it to loyal nobles, who leased it to others for a fixed term.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

But the judicial bodies, known as parlements, along with the nobles and clergy—who would have been exempt from taxation—resisted his plans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

Any marriage “choice” between nobles is an illusion.

From Salon ● Nov. 17, 2024

He nodded at a few passing nobles, who scraped and bowed.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

That coaster originally came with a nobler purpose, which is why I keep it handy and in plain sight as a prod to my own civic conscience.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026

The earliest on the program, “Jefferson and Liberty” from 1800, included the verse: “Here strangers from thousand shores/Compell’d by tyranny to roam;/Shall find, amidst abundant stores,/A nobler and a happier home.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2024

Shakespeare in the Park canceled its Thursday and Friday performances of “Hamlet,” saying ’tis not nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of wretched air.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2023

It’s ridiculous how entertaining “Air” is given that it’s about shoes, even if it works overtime to persuade you that it’s also about other, nobler truths, too.

From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2023

The Shaper remains, though now there are nobler courts where he might sing.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Gold is famously known as the noblest of all metals because it has little or no reaction when encountering other substances; a property that makes it perfect for wedding rings and coins.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2024

But that movie, for all its missteps, looks increasingly like the noblest of failures, a genuinely nervy, conceptually ambitious folly from which the director has now retreated to this movie’s safer, smugger climes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2023

The Chinese philosopher Confucius reputedly said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 8, 2023

We must face up to the ugliest aspects of our history and also to its noblest and most inspiring words and deeds.

From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2023

This idea, part of Jefferson's legacy to America, written down in one of the country's noblest documents, was incompatible with the idea of legalized slavery.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Related Words

• benevolent
• brilliant
• charitable
• dignified
• distinguished
• extraordinary
• gracious
• grand
• great
• high-minded
• honorable
• humane
• imposing
• lofty
• magnificent
• splendid
• virtuous
• worthy