peon
1(in Spanish America) a farm worker or unskilled laborer; day laborer.
(formerly, especially in Mexico) a person held in servitude to work off debts or other obligations.
any person of low social status, especially one who does work regarded as menial or unskilled; drudge.
Origin of peon
1Words that may be confused with peon
Other definitions for peon (2 of 2)
a messenger, attendant, or orderly.
a foot soldier or police officer.
Origin of peon
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use peon in a sentence
True aristocrats live on the same land as the peons because that is what you have to do to exercise true lordship.
Today’s Wonky Elite Is in Love With the Wrong French Intellectual | James Poulos | April 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOur super-rich can litigate and settle their way out of charges we peons could never escape.
Unlike our hometown billionaires, many of them still make stuff, or at least their peons do.
The peons of the 99 percent, including Matt Damon, are forced to continue living on a ruined Earth.
From ‘After Earth’ to ‘World War Z’: The Year in Apocalypse Movies | Kevin Fallon | June 24, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThen the group did reach yellow ground, and met rifles in the hands of Guevara's peons.
The Flaming Mountain | Harold Leland Goodwin
Guevara's peons had succeeded in holding the diamond pipe, but were surrounded by soldiers.
The Flaming Mountain | Harold Leland GoodwinThe young officer looked haughtily at the nearest peons and demanded in Spanish, "Do you know me?"
The Flaming Mountain | Harold Leland GoodwinHe stalked through as though there was not the slightest question that the peons would allow it.
The Flaming Mountain | Harold Leland GoodwinGuards were everywhere and peons rode ahead to inform the major-domo, and he came riding like devils to meet Doña Dolores Terain.
The Treasure Trail | Marah Ellis Ryan
British Dictionary definitions for peon (1 of 2)
/ (ˈpiːən, ˈpiːɒn) /
a Spanish-American farm labourer or unskilled worker
(formerly in Spanish America) a debtor compelled to work off his debts
any very poor person
Origin of peon
1British Dictionary definitions for peon (2 of 2)
/ (pjuːn, ˈpiːən, ˈpiːɒn) /
a messenger or attendant, esp in an office
a native policeman
a foot soldier
Origin of peon
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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