noblesse oblige
[ noh-bles oh-bleezh; French naw-bles aw-bleezh ]
/ noʊˈblɛs oʊˈbliʒ; French nɔˈblɛs ɔˈbliʒ /
noun
the moral obligation of those of high birth, powerful social position, etc., to act with honor, kindliness, generosity, etc.
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Origin of noblesse oblige
1830–40; < French: literally, nobility obliges
Words nearby noblesse oblige
noble rot, noble savage, noble-minded, nobleman, noblesse, noblesse oblige, noblesville, noblewoman, nobly, nobody, nobody home
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
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
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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.”
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.