noblesse oblige

[ noh-blesoh-bleezh; French naw-blesaw-bleezh ]

/ noʊˈblɛs oʊˈbliʒ; French nɔˈblɛs ɔˈbliʒ /

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noun

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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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. 2023

How to use noblesse oblige in a sentence

In an update of Nancy Mitford's 'Noblesse Oblige', The Telegraph has this handy guide, entitled, “What type of RP do you speak?”
Prince William Has 'Less Posh' Voice Than Kate|Tom Sykes|November 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
What if charity—giving out of love or noblesse oblige or religious commitment—doesn't go far enough?
Avoiding Sodom: It's About Policy, Not Charity|Gershom Gorenberg|September 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mitt Romney started off this campaign cycle as a noblesse oblige candidate.
Romney–Ryan: The Rich Voter’s Dream Ticket|Daniel Gross|August 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Yet he saw in it no inconsistencies and, as men go (and as I have known them), the code had certain qualities of noblesse oblige.
The Wasted Generation|Owen Johnson

It is the old noblesse oblige under new conditions of privilege.
A Girl's Student Days and After|Jeannette Marks
When our credit played out there, Liverpool, whose stomach overshadowed his sensations of noblesse oblige, married Chica.
Sixes and Sevens|O. Henry
But the courtly young Frenchman had quite as great a sense of noblesse oblige as his bride.
Ruth Fielding on the St. Lawrence|Alice B. Emerson
The unhappy lady—perhaps by subtle operation of the principle noblesse oblige—retained some degree of vivacity.
The Great Mogul|Louis Tracy

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.”