# nobles

/ˈnoʊbəɫz/ (US) · /nˈəʊbəlz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. people of high rank

noun · CEFR B2

people who belong to the highest social class, often having titles like 'Duke' or 'Baron' that are passed down through their families.

For teachers: individuals belonging to a hereditary social class with specific titles and privileges, typically within a monarchical system.

- In the past, the king had to share his power with the local nobles.
- The local nobles resisted the new tax laws, arguing that their ancient privileges exempted them from contributing to the royal treasury.

## Examples

- The king invited many nobles to the royal wedding.
- During the Middle Ages, the king relied on the support of powerful nobles to provide soldiers for his army.
- The revolution sought to strip the nobles of their ancient privileges and redistribute their vast landholdings to the peasantry.

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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.