noblesse oblige

American  

[noh-bles oh-bleezh, naw-bles aw-bleezh] / noʊˈblɛs oʊˈbliʒ, nɔˈblɛs ɔˈbliʒ /

noun

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

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noblesse oblige British  

/ nəʊˈblɛs əʊˈbliːʒ, nɔblɛs ɔbliʒ /

noun

1. ironic the supposed obligation of nobility to be honourable and generous

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noblesse oblige Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of noblesse oblige

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

Example Sentences

They rode to work in Rolls-Royces and adhered to a Protestant ethic of noblesse oblige.

From The Wall Street Journal

There might be just a dash of noblesse oblige in there, too, a little well-intentioned clemency from soccer’s great conqueror.

From New York Times

His noblesse oblige masked a steely newsman who stood by his publication and industry whenever they were under attack.

From Los Angeles Times

It's the "noblesse oblige" posturing of 19th-century industrialists, who pretended that building a few museums made up for grinding underpaid workers into dust.

From Salon

Given the vast wealth gap between likely patrons and these portrait-subjects, the question creates an inescapable aura of noblesse oblige.

From Los Angeles Times