noblesse oblige
[ noh-bles oh-bleezh; French naw-bles aw-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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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
Example sentences from the Web for noblesse oblige
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.”
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.