nobility
Americannoun
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a socially or politically privileged class whose titles are conferred by descent or by royal decree
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the state or quality of being morally or spiritually good; dignity
the nobility of his mind
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(in the British Isles) the class of people holding the titles of dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, or barons and their feminine equivalents collectively; peerage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of nobility
1350–1400; Middle English nobilite < Latin nōbilitās. See noble, -ity
Explanation
Nobility refers to a privileged class of people — often receiving hereditary titles — also called the aristocracy. You know the type. They hang around manors and castles, or curry favor at court. In the United states, there is no official class system, so there is no official noble class, or nobility. But nobility is also a synonym for nobleness — elevation of morals, ideals, or behavior. So if you have friends who always behave with generosity, honesty, and integrity, you may be surrounded by nobility — even if you don’t hang out with lords, baronesses, dukes, or ladies.
Vocabulary lists containing nobility
Liberty, Equality, Vocabulary: The French Revolution
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The Articles of Confederation (1777)
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The French Revolution
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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.
When Elle wants something, she figures out a way to get it and comes by her success honestly and with nobility.
From Salon • Jul. 6, 2026
I mean the bit about relying on the collective nobility of our compatriots.
From Salon • Jun. 26, 2026
Before the uprising can commence, the General has to unify the Polish nobility and peasantry to accumulate the muscle needed to beat back Mother Russia.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi is a property developer, descended from Italian nobility, while Eugenie's, Jack Brooksbank, has worked in hospitality and marketing.
From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026
He was born in Rome to a Polish mother from extremely, extremely minor nobility.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
