estate

es·tate | \ i-ˈstāt

Definition of estate

(Entry 1 of 2)

2 : social standing or rank especially of a high order

3 : a social or political class specifically : one of the great classes (such as the nobility, the clergy, and the commons) formerly vested with distinct political powers

4a : the degree, quality, nature, and extent of one's interest in land or other property

b(1) : possessions, property especially : a person's property in land and tenements a man of small estate

(2) : the assets and liabilities left by a person at death

c : a landed property usually with a large house on it

d British : project sense 4

5 British : station wagon

6 : farm, plantation also : vineyard

estate

adjective

Definition of estate (Entry 2 of 2)

: previously owned by another and usually of high quality estate jewelry

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about estate

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Examples of estate in a Sentence

Noun His estate is worth millions of dollars. He inherited the estate from his parents. the grounds of the estate

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The comedian originally sought $16 million for the estate in September before trimming the price tag down to $14.75 million a month later. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, "Hot Property: Comedian Kathy Griffin cashes out in Bel-Air," 19 Dec. 2020 Only time will tell what's in store for this grand estate! — Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, "Pippa Middleton's Rumored New Property Purchase Is a $2 Million Berkshire Estate," 16 Dec. 2020 Jane Pederson Jandl, marketing manager for the historic estate, said Glensheen expects a 30% loss in revenue this fiscal year. — Brooks Johnson, Star Tribune, "Duluth's dilemma: To welcome visitors or lock down?," 16 Nov. 2020 The vineyards comprise 30 acres straddling the exclusive Silverado Trail in Napa, and plans for the estate include a 2021 opening of a 21,000-square foot winemaking facility and tasting room. — Sunset Magazine, "From the Ashes: Signorello Winemaker Priyanka French Rises Again," 14 Nov. 2020 John and Cynthia McCaffrey paid cash through a trust for a two-story estate with stunning views in Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain community. — Ebony Day, The Arizona Republic, "Paradise Valley luxury mansion perched on Mummy Mountain sells for over $5M," 9 Nov. 2020 Attorney Christopher Hug, the administrator for the estate of Fotis Dulos, joined Weinstein in asking for a death declaration. — Fox News, "Jennifer Dulos' family wants her declared dead to bring 'closure,' attorney says," 23 Oct. 2020 Just last month, the city and attorneys for Smith's estate had told a federal judge than a second round of mediation had not been successful, and the case was set for trial in December. — Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee to weigh $4 million payment to family of Sylville Smith, fatally shot by police in 2016," 23 Oct. 2020 Two of Davis' sisters and one of his sisters-in-law continued to work for the Ridgelys' estate until the late 19th and early 20th century, said Weidman. — Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "The life and coat of Tilghman Davis, who drove for the same Maryland family in slavery and freedom," 22 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Currently popular items among these shops include vintage cameras and typewriters, pocket watches and timepieces, Victorian and estate jewelry, military memorabilia and World War II posters, sterling silver, and advertising signs. — Cheryl P. Rose, Houston Chronicle, "Nostalgia draws antique treasure hunters to historic Galveston," 15 Nov. 2019 The third lot was zoned estate single-family detached dwelling district zoning. — Steve Lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora to annex 22.5 acres for data storage company expansion," 12 Oct. 2017 First, the lawyer who drew up your estate documents might be willing to serve as your executor, says Holly Isdale, founder of Wealthaven, a consulting firm in Bryn Mawr, Pa., that focuses on financial and estate plans. — Glenn Ruffenach, WSJ, "How to Find Ideas for ‘Second Acts’ After Retiring," 27 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'estate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

16 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Estate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estate. Accessed 23 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for estate

estate

noun

English Language Learners Definition of estate

: all of the things that a person owns

: the things left by someone who has died

: a large piece of land with a large house on it

See the full definition for estate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

estate

noun

es·tate | \ i-ˈstāt

Kids Definition of estate

1 : the property of all kinds that a person leaves at death

2 : a mansion on a large piece of land

3 : state entry 1 sense 1 … he was hardly grateful that he had been spared, remembering how lonely was his estate …— Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer

estate

noun

es·tate | \ i-ˈstāt

Legal Definition of estate

1 : the interest of a particular degree, nature, quality, or extent that one has in land or other property — compare fee, future interest at interest, remainder, reversion, tenancy

— absolute estate

: an estate that confers an absolute right to property and that is subject to no limitations, restrictions, or conditions : fee simple absolute at fee simple

— contingent estate

: an estate whose vesting is conditioned upon the happening or failure of some uncertain event

— equitable estate

: the estate of one that has a beneficial right to property which is legally owned by a trustee or a person regarded at equity as a trustee (as in the case of a use or power) — compare legal estate in this entry

— estate at sufferance

: the estate in property held by one who remains in possession of or on the property after his or her lawful right to do so has ended

— estate at will

: an estate in property subject to termination at the will of another person

— estate by the entirety

: an estate held by a husband and wife together in which the whole property belongs to each of them and passes as a whole to the survivor upon the death of either of them to the exclusion of the deceased spouse's heirs

— called also estate by the entireties

— compare joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety, and tenancy in common at tenancy

— estate for years

: an estate that terminates after a set period

— estate in expectancy

: an estate the enjoyment of which will take place at a future time : future interest at interest

— estate of inheritance

: an estate that can be inherited (as a fee simple as opposed to a life estate)

— estate on condition

: an estate subject to a contingency whose happening permits the grantor of the estate to terminate it if he or she so chooses — compare fee simple determinable at fee simple

— estate pur autre vie

: a life estate measured by the life of a third person rather than that of the person enjoying the property

— estate tail estates tail

: an estate granted to a person and his or her direct descendants subject to a reverter or remainder upon the inheritance of the property by a grantee without direct descendants : fee tail at fee

— legal estate

: an estate to which one person (as a trustee) has legal title but of which another person has the right to the beneficial use — compare equitable estate in this entry

— life estate

: an estate in property held only during or measured in duration by the lifetime of a specified individual and especially the individual enjoying the property — see also life tenant

Note: Life estates are not estates of inheritance.

— vested estate

: an estate in which one has a right to enjoyment currently or sometime in the future

2 : all or designated items of a person's or entity's property considered as a whole

— bankruptcy estate

: the estate of a debtor in bankruptcy that includes all the debtor's legal and equitable interests in property as set out in the bankruptcy laws

— called also debtor's estate

— see also bankruptcy, trustee in bankruptcy

— personal estate

: all of a person's property except real property broadly : all of the property belonging to a person

— separate estate

: an estate whose ownership and control is enjoyed by a person free from any rights or control of another (as a spouse)

3a : the assets and liabilities left by a person at death — see also bequest, devise, freehold, heir, inheritance, intestate, leasehold, legacy, probate, testate, will

— augmented estate \ ȯg-ˈmen-təd- \

: a deceased person's probate estate increased in accordance with statutory provisions and especially by the addition of any property transferred by the deceased within two years of death, any joint tenancies, and any transfers in which the deceased retained either the right to revoke or the income for life

Note: In some states, the surviving spouse's elective share is distributed from the augmented estate.

— gross estate

: the estate of a person upon death defined by federal estate laws to include all of the deceased's real and personal property at death that may be passed by will or by intestate succession as well as specified property transferred by the deceased before death

— probate estate

: all of a deceased person's estate that is administered under the jurisdiction of the probate court

Note: Some assets, such as certain insurance proceeds, generally do not become part of the probate estate and are said to “pass outside of probate.”

— residuary estate

: all of what is left of an estate once the deceased person's debts and administration costs have been paid and all specific and general bequests and devises have been distributed

— called also residual estate

— taxable estate

: the estate of a deceased person that is subject to estate tax

Note: Under federal estate tax law, the taxable estate is the gross estate less allowed deductions.

b : the aggregate of a deceased person's property considered as a legal entity

4 : a tract of land especially affected by an easement

— dominant estate

: a tract of land that is benefited by an easement burdening a servient estate

— servient estate

: a tract of land that is burdened by an easement benefiting a dominant estate

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