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

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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

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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

Like the Tech Right, these men see noble masculinity as the solution to most of society’s ills.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

The dream of global justice is noble, and plans for a global court in the 1990s often came with the best of intentions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

They needed a doctor with noble features and blue, believable eyes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026

But no matter how noble Alice’s mission is, her consistent character is no match for Anderson’s heavy hand.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

The merchants nodded to one another for their noble part in the adventure—selling all those spices.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

His people are ancient and few, a clan whose kinship with nature left them vulnerable to warring nobles who all but wiped them out.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

Some nobles have tried to improve the atas' lot.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

English lands were handed over the Norman nobles.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

He convened the Estates General—representing the nobles, the clergy and the commoners—to break the deadlock.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

The group of watching nobles, their robes swaying, parted to make a path.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin

It would be a valuable prize for the country and for him, an honor far nobler than the Nobel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 8, 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

Ambitious men caught glimpses of nobler ambitions than their own, and even worldlings confessed that his beliefs were beautiful and true, although ‘they wouldn’t pay’.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

The book’s hero is an upbeat, morally upright counselor named Ben Frost, who activated the boys’ noblest impulses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Indeed, it can create the noblest magic known to all mankind.

From Salon ● Dec. 14, 2025

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

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

Or had I best join fortunes with a suitor, the noblest one, most lavish in his gifts?

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

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Related Words

• benevolent
• brilliant
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