nobility

American  

[noh-bil-i-tee] / noʊˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

• nobilities
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• nonnobility
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nobilities
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nobility nobilities

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

From Parsi philanthropists and Maharashtrian nobility to mill workers and marginalised migrant settlers, the photographs showcase the city's many faces that stake a claim to the making of Bombay.

From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026

Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

“Is it true that the Modegan nobility regard haggling as a contemptible activity for those of any highborn station?”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

It captures all the nobilities of the sport, in all its splendor, in two minutes flat.

From Time ● Apr. 6, 2015

As a result, moviegoers get a full treatment of the giant-sized nobilities and epic despairs that swirl up from Victorian drama, reflected in the iridescent mirror of fin de siecle Paris.

From Time Magazine Archive

Britain and France had hereditary nobilities; Britain still has a queen.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Can we not build an elegant comfort, convenience, ease, into the walls and apartments, rendering the mansion an image of the nobilities becoming the residence of noblemen?

From Tablets by Amos Bronson Alcott

Thus the hereditary nobilities of Europe have been able to maintain themselves; and a similar process is undoubtedly taking place among the idle rich who occupy an analogous position in the United States.

From Applied Eugenics by Paul Popenoe

Related Words

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