# peasant

/ˈpɛzənt/ (US) · /pˈɛzənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/peasant
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. historical farmer

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- In the Middle Ages, most peasants spent their entire lives working on the lord's land.
- The uprising was fueled by the peasants' resentment toward the heavy taxes imposed by the ruling aristocracy during the famine.

### 2. rude/uneducated person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Vulgar

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

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

- He acted like a total peasant by shouting at the waiter in the middle of the restaurant.
- The socialite dismissed the newcomers as mere peasants, mocking their lack of familiarity with high-society etiquette.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly offensive and elitist; it is used to look down on others based on their perceived class or education.

### 3. simple or traditional style

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- She wore a white peasant blouse with colorful embroidery on the sleeves.
- The restaurant specialized in rustic peasant dishes, serving hearty stews and thick crusty bread in a communal setting.

## Examples

- The wealthy man looked at the crowd and called them peasants.
- In the middle ages, most of the population consisted of peasants who worked land owned by the nobility.
- While the historical study focuses on the uprising of the rural peasants, modern internet culture has repurposed the term as a sharp, classist insult directed at those with inferior technology.

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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.