# noble

/ˈnoʊbəɫ/ (US) · /nˈəʊbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/noble
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. moral character

adjective · CEFR B2

having very high standards of honesty, courage, and goodness.

For teachers: possessing or exhibiting high moral qualities or ideals; free from pettiness or mean-spiritedness.

- It was a noble gesture to give his prize money to the local hospital.
- The leader was remembered for his noble character, specifically his refusal to compromise his principles even under extreme political pressure.

### 2. aristocratic

adjective · CEFR B2

belonging to a family of high social rank, like a duke or a count.

For teachers: belonging to the hereditary aristocracy; of exalted rank or station by birth.

- The family can trace their noble ancestors back to the twelfth century.
- Despite their noble lineage, the family lived a relatively modest life in a small village far from the capital.

### 3. unreactive chemicals

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

used to describe gases or metals that do not easily change when they touch other chemicals.

For teachers: chemically inert or having low reactivity; specifically applied to gases in group 18 or metals like gold and platinum.

- Helium is a noble gas, which means it does not usually react with other elements.
- Gold is considered a noble metal because it resists oxidation and corrosion in moist air, unlike iron or copper.

### 4. grand appearance

adjective · CEFR B2

looking very impressive, large, and beautiful.

For teachers: having a stately, magnificent, or impressive appearance.

- The old library was a noble building with tall columns and marble floors.
- The mountain range presented a noble silhouette against the darkening sky, inspiring generations of landscape painters.

### 5. an aristocrat

noun · CEFR B2

a person who belongs to the highest social class and has a title.

For teachers: a person of noble rank or birth; a member of the aristocracy.

- The king invited all the local nobles to a great feast at the palace.
- In the medieval period, the king relied on the support of powerful nobles to maintain order across the distant provinces.

## Examples

- It was a noble gesture to help the family in need.
- The leader was remembered for her noble efforts to bring peace to the region despite the personal risks involved.
- History often remembers those who made noble sacrifices for the sake of future generations, even when their contemporary peers failed to recognise the value of their selflessness.

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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.