Word
nobility
Phoneticsno·bil·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/noʊˈbɪɫəti/
UK/nəʊbˈɪlɪti/
Definitions
01social class
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the group of people who belong to the highest social class and often have titles like Duke or Baron.
n. the social class consisting of people with hereditary or honorary titles; the aristocracy.
“In the past, the nobility owned most of the land in the country.”
“The French Revolution fundamentally altered the relationship between the nobility and the common people, stripping the former of their ancient legal privileges.”
Usage
uncountable when referring to the class as a whole; countable when referring to specific noble families.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02moral character
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the quality of being honest, brave, and kind.
n. the quality of being noble in character, mind, or rank; excellence of moral disposition.
Español:nobleza
“We all admired the nobility of his actions when he helped the family.”
“The speaker praised the nobility of the volunteers, noting that their selfless dedication to the cause was an inspiration to the entire community.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Scarlet was the traditional color of the British nobility in the 17th and 18th centuries.” “Series one featured a fraudster impersonating a member of the nobility while leaving their victims to foot the bill for their lavish life, and another faking terminal cancer.” “As with mizunasu and Yanagawa nabe, the dessert has roots in the Edo era, when sugar, shaved ice and powdered tea were rare luxuries enjoyed by nobility and warlords.” “The samurai, Japan’s celebrated lineage of warriors, emerged in the Heian period (794-1185), when the rise of their status enabled them to mingle with the refined nobility living in the then-capital of Heian-kyō (Kyoto).” Etymology
From Old French nobilité, from Latin nobilitas. Equivalent to noble + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/nobility
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0