noble

1 of 2

adjective

no·​ble ˈnō-bəl How to pronounce noble (audio)
1
a
: possessing outstanding qualities : illustrious
was a noble king
b
: famous, notable
noble deeds
2
: of high birth or exalted rank : aristocratic
… my sire is of a noble line …Samuel Taylor Coleridge
noble families
3
a
: possessing very high or excellent qualities or properties
noble wine
b
: very good or excellent
See that there be a noble supper provided …R. B. Sheridan
4
: grand or impressive especially in appearance
noble edifice
a noble cathedral
5
: possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals : lofty
a noble ambition
a noble cause
6
: chemically inert or inactive especially toward oxygen
a noble metal such as platinum
compare base entry 3 sense 2a
nobleness noun
nobly
ˈnō-blē How to pronounce noble (audio)
 also  -bə-lē
adverb

noble

2 of 2

noun

1
: a person of noble rank or birth
2
: an old English gold coin equivalent to 6 shillings and 8 pence
Choose the Right Synonym for noble

moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good.

moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong.

the basic moral values of a community

ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity.

committed to the highest ethical principles

virtuous implies moral excellence in character.

not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless

righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious.

wished to be righteous before God and the world

noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character.

had the noblest of reasons for seeking office

Examples of noble in a Sentence

Adjective He was a man of noble character. It was noble of her to come forward with this information. Noun an elite school for children of nobles
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Over the years, the castle has served as the home of noble families and later housed a textile school and boarding school for children with disabilities. Allix Cott, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2024 Staying on the leading edge of your industry is a noble pursuit and one that can be necessary to hold onto market share. Bj Vander Linden, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
Noun
Well, Dunk and Egg is about the small folk who suffer at the hands of the game of thrones as it's played by the nobles. EW.com, 19 Oct. 2024 Set amid the Black Death that decimated Europe in the mid-14th century, Boccaccio’s masterpiece follows 10 young nobles fleeing a plague outbreak in Florence that would ultimately reduce the city’s population by half. Judy Berman, TIME, 25 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for noble 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'noble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin nobilis well-known, noble, from noscere to come to know — more at know

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of noble was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near noble

Cite this Entry

“Noble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noble. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

noble

1 of 2 adjective
no·​ble ˈnō-bəl How to pronounce noble (audio)
nobler -b(ə-)lər How to pronounce noble (audio) ; noblest -b(ə-)ləst How to pronounce noble (audio)
1
: famous, notable
noble deed
2
: of high birth or rank : aristocratic
3
: possessing very high qualities : excellent
4
: grand especially in appearance : imposing
a noble cathedral
5
: having or characterized by superiority of mind or character : magnanimous
a noble nature
6
: chemically inactive especially toward oxygen
noble metal
nobleness noun
nobly adverb

noble

2 of 2 noun
: a person of noble rank or birth

More from Merriam-Webster on noble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!