noble
Americanadjective
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distinguished by rank or title.
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pertaining to persons so distinguished.
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of, belonging to, or constituting a hereditary class that has special social or political status in a country or state; of or pertaining to the aristocracy.
- Synonyms:
- blue-blooded, patrician, aristocratic, highborn
- Antonyms:
- bourgeois, middle-class, working-class, lower-class, common, lowborn, baseborn
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of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence.
a noble thought.
- Synonyms:
- worthy, estimable, honorable, magnanimous, principled, high-minded, elevated, lofty, meritorious
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admirable in dignity of conception, manner of expression, execution, or composition.
a noble poem.
- Antonyms:
- unrespected, disreputable, undignified
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very impressive or imposing in appearance.
a noble monument.
- Synonyms:
- imperial, regal, impressive, splendid, imposing, magnificent, stately, grand, majestic, lordly
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of an admirably high quality; notably superior; excellent
- Synonyms:
- exceptional, exemplary, outstanding, notable, noteworthy
- Antonyms:
- unexceptional, ordinary, inferior
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famous; illustrious; renowned.
- Synonyms:
- distinguished, celebrated, famed
- Antonyms:
- obscure, unknown, remarkable
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Chemistry. inert; chemically inactive.
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Falconry. (of a hawk) having excellent qualities or abilities.
noun
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nobles
plural
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a person of noble birth or rank; nobleman or noblewoman.
- Synonyms:
- patrician, blue blood, aristocrat, peer
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a former gold coin of England, first issued in 1346 by Edward III, equal to half a mark or 6s. 8d., replaced in 1464 under Edward IV by the rose noble.
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(in Britain) a peer.
adjective
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of or relating to a hereditary class with special social or political status, often derived from a feudal period
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of or characterized by high moral qualities; magnanimous
a noble deed
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having dignity or eminence; illustrious
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grand or imposing; magnificent
a noble avenue of trees
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of superior quality or kind; excellent
a noble strain of horses
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chem
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(of certain elements) chemically unreactive
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(of certain metals, esp copper, silver, and gold) resisting oxidation
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falconry
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designating long-winged falcons that capture their quarry by stooping on it from above Compare ignoble
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designating the type of quarry appropriate to a particular species of falcon
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noun
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a person belonging to a privileged social or political class whose status is usually indicated by a title conferred by sovereign authority or descent
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(in the British Isles) a person holding the title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron, or a feminine equivalent
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a former Brit gold coin having the value of one third of a pound
Synonym Usage
Noble, high-minded, magnanimous agree in referring to lofty principles and loftiness of mind or spirit. Noble implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable: a noble deed. High-minded implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them: a high-minded pursuit of legal reforms. Magnanimous suggests greatness of mind or soul, especially as manifested in generosity or in overlooking injuries: magnanimous toward his former enemies.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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noblenessnoun
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overnoblenessnoun
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nonnobleadjective
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overnobleadjective
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pseudonobleadjective
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noblyadverb
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overnoblyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of noble
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin (g)nōbilis “notable, of high rank,” equivalent to (g)nō-, root of (g)nōscere “to get to know, find out” + -bilis adjective suffix; see origin at know 1, -ble
Explanation
A noble is a titled peer of the realm or an aristocrat. As an adjective, noble describes someone with high or elevated character, or who is impressive in appearance. From feudal times, we have known nobles as the heirs to thrones or as the holders of aristocratic title. British aristocracy, for example, produces many people of various noble titles, including dukes, earls, princes, kings, and queens. As various royal histories tell us, however, many of these nobles in title weren't quite so noble in character.
Vocabulary lists containing noble
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act I
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An "August" Assortment: Words Worthy of Honor
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"Beowulf," Vocabulary from the epic poem
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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.
See Examples For:
Inspiration came from a noble predecessor, Charles Ives, the godfather of modern American music.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Conservative shadow housing secretary Katie Lam said it was a "noble aim" to protect UK democracy from foreign influence but changes proposed by the government had not always been produced with "proper care and attention".
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
The world of “Lanterns” prefers to be bracingly honest about our false assumptions about heroism and whether the people we deem to be noble really are.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
The World Cup gives each of us an opportunity to affirm our identities with pride, and Los Angeles throughout history has been the place that has welcomed these noble acts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
“Do you need to see Nurse Peaks? Or one of our noble Headmarvellers?”
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Some nobles have tried to improve the atas' lot.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
English lands were handed over the Norman nobles.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
That’s because it includes a spectrum of voices from across our culture – nobles and villagers, Black and Indigenous figures, women, British loyalists, philosophers and soldiers among them.
From Salon ● Dec. 17, 2025
Members of Parliament and British nobles in kilts mingled with reality TV stars like Ubah Hassan of the “The Real Housewives of New York City” and Mary Holland Nader of “Love Thy Nader.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
When beggars came to the temple from down the mountain, Father Cham received them as if they were visiting nobles, feeding them and chatting with them for long hours.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
Still, she imposed what Norman Podhoretz called an “inordinate demand”: that Jews under Hitler be braver and nobler than ordinary people could be expected to be when murderers held all the power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Whether teetotaling, temperance or virgin, they’re just drinks, after all — though I suppose their intricacy beyond fresh-squeezed juice demands we label them something nobler.
From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2024
Known for inventing the fast break, McLendon made a far nobler contribution to sports by accelerating the acceptance of minorities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2023
Shakespeare in the Park canceled its Thursday and Friday performances of “Hamlet,” saying ’tis not nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of wretched air.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
But, in its maturity, it was nobler than before.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
The book’s hero is an upbeat, morally upright counselor named Ben Frost, who activated the boys’ noblest impulses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Gold is famously known as the noblest of all metals because it has little or no reaction when encountering other substances; a property that makes it perfect for wedding rings and coins.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2024
The Chinese philosopher Confucius reputedly said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 8, 2023
We must face up to the ugliest aspects of our history and also to its noblest and most inspiring words and deeds.
From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2023
My mother said to me once that suffering is the noblest art, the quieter the better.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
