peer of the realm

American  

noun

plural

peers of the realm

1. any of a class of peers in Great Britain and Ireland entitled by heredity to sit in the House of Lords.

---

peer of the realm British  

noun

1. (in Great Britain and Northern Ireland) any member of the nobility entitled to sit in the House of Lords

---

Etymology

Origin of peer of the realm

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

Also present are the Lords Spiritual and Temporal - bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords including the Archbishop of Canterbury, together with the secular peers of the realm.

From Reuters

“You read me a lesson? I? A peer of the realm? And you, from the place where you come from?”

From The Guardian

On Thursday, a government minister referred to Trump as a peer of the realm, before quickly dampening speculation that he could be ennobled.

From The Guardian

Some of them did very well and went on to become successful publishers or peers of the realm.

From The Guardian

Tall, gaunt and slightly ungainly, in his snakeskin shoes, chunky rings and rakishly well-tailored suits, Cave resembles nothing so much as a postmillennial hybrid of bookie and peer of the realm.

From New York Times