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highborn

American  
[hahy-bawrn] / ˈhaɪˌbɔrn /

adjective

  1. of high rank by birth.


highborn British  
/ ˈhaɪˌbɔːn /

adjective

  1. of noble or aristocratic birth

"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 highborn

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at high, born

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.

A highborn Athenian named Thucydides recognized at once that a transformative conflict was beginning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

That a hotheaded, highborn Southerner killed a working man confirmed Northern fears about the intemperate behavior of Southern defenders of slavery, according to Gugliotta.

From Washington Post • Jun. 23, 2018

A wealthy commoner, he craves acceptance by those highborn and dedicates himself to learning their refined pastimes, like fencing and dancing the minuet.

From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2016

Unless you, gentle reader, are a highborn scion of the landed aristocracy, the inheritor of wealth and privilege, the proud bearer of a patrician sigil, do you imagine they would care about you?

From Salon • May 1, 2016

They were looking for a highborn girl, daughter of the King's Hand, not for a skinny boy with his hair chopped off.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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