noblesse oblige

[ noh-bles oh-bleezh; French naw-bles aw-bleezh ]

/ noʊˈblɛs oʊˈbliʒ; French nɔˈblɛs ɔˈbliʒ /

Save This Word!

noun

the moral obligation of those of high birth, powerful social position, etc., to act with honor, kindliness, generosity, etc.

QUIZ

FIRE UP YOUR VOCAB FOR A "RED" SYNONYMS QUIZ

No fire engine reds here, only a fierce collection of vibrant words for the color red to test yourself on.

Question 1 of 7

What does "amaranth" mean?

a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

a mythical creature

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of noblesse oblige

First recorded in 1830–40; from French: literally, “nobility obliges”

Words nearby noblesse oblige

noble-minded, noble opal, noble rot, noble savage, noblesse, noblesse oblige, Noblesville, noblewoman, nobly, nobody, nobody home

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use noblesse oblige in a sentence

The would-be pope killer loves to be in front of the cameras, and the press in Italy is happy to oblige.
Pope-Shooter Ali Agca’s Very Weird Vatican Visit|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The zoo is blessed with multiple wallabies and was happy to oblige.
Ebola's Roots Are 50 Times Older Than Mankind. And That Could Be the Key to Stopping It.|Michael Daly|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To know the Egyptian military is to realize it will not oblige.
Leslie H. Gelb on the Democracy-Elections Trap in Egypt|Leslie H. Gelb|July 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I know some magazines contractually oblige their staff writers to produce six features a year, for example.
Lawrence Wright: How I Write|Noah Charney|May 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST

If Republicans wanted to talk books, Elleithee said, the McAuliffe campaign should be happy to oblige.
In Virginia, Terry McAuliffe’s Memoir Comes Back to Haunt Him|David Freedlander|May 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Contrary to our general notions of the foreign noblesse those exhibited some of the finest-looking men whom I had ever seen.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
And was it not possible that the E. of N. might oblige his old Friends in the same manner?
An Account of the Growth of Deism in England|William Stephens
Jonas: La baleine fut la fin oblige de le vomir tant un Prophte est un morceau difficile digrer.
Baron d'Holbach|Max Pearson Cushing
And to increase the horrid scene, they would oblige the husband to be a spectator before suffered himself.
Fox's Book of Martyrs|John Foxe
Señor Rhodes will be pleased to unfasten those heavy chains to oblige the lady.
The Treasure Trail|Marah Ellis Ryan

British Dictionary definitions for noblesse oblige

noblesse oblige

/ (nəʊˈblɛs əʊˈbliːʒ, French nɔblɛs ɔbliʒ) /

noun

often ironic the supposed obligation of nobility to be honourable and generous

Word Origin for noblesse oblige

French, literally: nobility obliges

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

Cultural definitions for noblesse oblige

noblesse oblige

[ (noh-bles oh-bleezh) ]

The belief that the wealthy and privileged are obliged to help those less fortunate. From French, meaning “nobility obligates.”