# nobility

/noʊˈbɪɫəti/ (US) · /nəʊbˈɪlɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nobility
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. social class

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the group of people who belong to the highest social class and often have titles like Duke or Baron.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. moral character

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the quality of being honest, brave, and kind.

For teachers: the quality of being noble in character, mind, or rank; excellence of moral disposition.

- 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.

## Examples

- The local nobility lived in the large castle on the hill.
- Historians often study how the European nobility maintained their political influence during the transition to modern democracy.
- True nobility is found not in a person's ancestral lineage or inherited wealth, but in their consistent display of integrity and self-sacrifice for the benefit of others.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.