nobility

American  

[noh-bil-i-tee] / noʊˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

nobilities

1. the noble class or the body of nobles in a country.

2. (in Britain) the peerage.

3. the state or quality of being noble.

4. nobleness of mind, character, or spirit; exalted moral excellence.

5. grandeur or magnificence.

6. noble birth or rank.

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nobility British  

/ nəʊˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. a socially or politically privileged class whose titles are conferred by descent or by royal decree

2. the state or quality of being morally or spiritually good; dignity

   the nobility of his mind

3. (in the British Isles) the class of people holding the titles of dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, or barons and their feminine equivalents collectively; peerage

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Other Word Forms

• nonnobility noun

Etymology

Origin of nobility

1350–1400; Middle English nobilite < Latin nōbilitās. See noble, -ity

Example Sentences

But Mr. Belcher doesn’t succeed in making Coriolanus’ wariness of empty words a mark of his nobility of spirit—imperfect though it is.

From The Wall Street Journal

But as time has passed, his appearances has been marked by artists and actors wrestling with his godlike nobility and wanting to question his straight-laced nature.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet this is what we are left with—and we can only admire the grace, nobility and gravity of expression that she brought to whatever she recorded.

From The Wall Street Journal

More of a shady old lady than Swiss nobility.

From Literature

Ha: Even reading the scripts, I was like, how are they going to make this work, especially acknowledging the class difference as well, nobility and her being a servant.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dignity
• generosity
• grandeur
• greatness
• integrity
• superiority
• upper class
• virtue