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gentleman-farmer

American  
[jen-tl-muhn-fahr-mer] / ˈdʒɛn tl mənˈfɑr mər /

noun

plural

gentlemen-farmers
  1. a man whose wealth or income from other sources permits him to farm for pleasure rather than for basic income.

  2. a man whose income from his farm has freed him from the necessity of physical labor.


gentleman-farmer British  

noun

  1. a person who engages in farming but does not depend on it for his living

  2. a person who owns farmland but does not farm it personally

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gentleman-farmer

First recorded in 1740–50

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.

The most talked about young Tory, gentleman-farmer David Eccles, 47, after waiting nervously for a week while 32 other jobs were filled, was made Minister of Works.

From Time Magazine Archive

During his time in office, Arbenz emerged as the owner of a $3,000,000 cotton plantation; his Interior Minister turned into a gentleman-farmer with two coffee fincas; another pal acquired two mansions.

From Time Magazine Archive

And to F.D.R., the tall, dour gentleman-farmer who peered frostily at the world through pince-nez was sometimes "Henry the Morgue," but also "one of two of a kind"�the other being Roosevelt himself.

From Time Magazine Archive

Firmly letting it be known that President Roosevelt had not changed his mind about how much new revenue he wanted, the baldish, lanky gentleman-farmer urged revival of processing taxes to supply the $380,000,000 House deficiency.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mr Humphreys owned as well as farmed his land, and so might have claimed, had he chosen, the title of gentleman-farmer; but he himself would have scoffed at such an idea.

From The Young Colonists A Story of the Zulu and Boer Wars by Henty, G.A.