Word
peasantry
Phoneticspeas·antry
US/ˈpɛzəntɹi/
UK/pˈɛzəntɹˌi/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the social class of people who work on farms and live in the countryside. It is an old word for the group of people who were not rich or noble.
n. the social class of rural workers, particularly those who own or work small plots of land. Often used in historical contexts to describe the lower orders of society before the industrial revolution.
Examples
“The peasantry lived in small wooden houses near the fields.”
“Historians study how the peasantry reacted to the introduction of new farming technologies in the eighteenth century.”
“The transition from a feudal system to a market economy fundamentally altered the status of the peasantry, shifting their primary allegiance from local lords to the broader national state.”
Examples
simple
“The peasantry lived in small wooden houses near the fields.”
contextual
“Historians study how the peasantry reacted to the introduction of new farming technologies in the eighteenth century.”
complex
“The transition from a feudal system to a market economy fundamentally altered the status of the peasantry, shifting their primary allegiance from local lords to the broader national state.”
Real-World Examples
“Serfdom was seen as degrading and was heavily resented by the peasantry.” “Bibliothèque nationale de France via Wikimedia Commons In 1358, the Jacques – a derogatory name for members of the lower French peasantry – razed noble estates and killed members of the aristocracy.” Etymology
From peasant + -ry, from Middle English paissaunt.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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