Word
gentry
Phoneticsgen·try
US/ˈdʒɛntɹi/
UK/dʒˈɛntɹi/
Definition
n. people who belong to a high social class, usually because they own a lot of land. In the past, they were just below the level of royalty or noble titles.
n. the class of people next below the nobility in position and birth; specifically, the class of landowners who do not possess titles. Often used in historical or sociological contexts to describe the landed elite.
Examples
“The local gentry lived in large houses on the edge of town.”
“During the eighteenth century, the landed gentry held significant political power in rural districts through their control of local courts.”
“The novel explores the shifting social dynamics between the traditional country gentry and the rising class of industrial capitalists who sought to purchase their way into high society.”
Examples
simple
“The local gentry lived in large houses on the edge of town.”
contextual
“During the eighteenth century, the landed gentry held significant political power in rural districts through their control of local courts.”
complex
“The novel explores the shifting social dynamics between the traditional country gentry and the rising class of industrial capitalists who sought to purchase their way into high society.”
Usage
Usually takes a plural verb ('the gentry are') and is often preceded by the definite article 'the'.
Real-World Examples
“And as the center of elite life moved to London, even members of the gentry shifted how they enjoyed themselves.” “Her adored mother Polly, meanwhile, was Gloucestershire gentry and there had been the usual rows about marrying down.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/gentry