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REFERENCE

peasant

n. · adj.
US //ˈpɛzənt// UK //pˈɛzənt// peas·ant
  1. 1 historical farmer (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a poor person who lives in the country and works on a small farm, especially in the past.

    a member of a traditional class of farmers, either as smallholders or agricultural labourers, typically associated with feudal or pre-industrial societies.

    Example

    In the Middle Ages, most peasants spent their entire lives working on the lord's land.

    Example

    The uprising was fueled by the peasants' resentment toward the heavy taxes imposed by the ruling aristocracy during the famine.
  2. 2 rude/uneducated person (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Vulgar

    an insulting word for someone you think is rude, uneducated, or has bad manners.

    a derogatory term for an individual perceived as uncouth, uncultured, or lacking in social refinement.

    Example

    He acted like a total peasant by shouting at the waiter in the middle of the restaurant.

    Example

    The socialite dismissed the newcomers as mere peasants, mocking their lack of familiarity with high-society etiquette.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is highly offensive and elitist; it is used to look down on others based on their perceived class or education.
    • boor
    • oaf
    • churl
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  1. 3 simple or traditional style (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing a style of clothing or food that is simple and traditional, like what farmers used to wear or eat.

    relating to or characteristic of the traditional clothing, food, or customs of agricultural labourers.

    Example

    She wore a white peasant blouse with colorful embroidery on the sleeves.

    Example

    The restaurant specialized in rustic peasant dishes, serving hearty stews and thick crusty bread in a communal setting.
Origin

From Late Middle English paissaunt, from Anglo-Norman paisant, from Old French païsant, païsan (“countryman, peasant”), from païs (“country”), from Latin pāgus (“countryside”) + Old French -enc (“member of”), from Frankish -inc, -ing "-ing"; which was an alteration of earlier Late Latin pāgēnsis (“inhabitant of a district”). Doublet of paisano.

Word family

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