plural gentries
1
a
: upper or ruling class : aristocracy
b
: a class whose members are entitled to bear a coat of arms though not of noble rank
especially
: wealthy landowners having such status
2
: people of a specified class or kind : folks
no real heroes or heroines among the academic gentry—
R. G. Hanvey
R. G. Hanvey3
a
: the condition or rank of a gentleman
b
obsolete
: the qualities appropriate to a person of gentle (see gentle entry 1 sense 4a) birth
especially
: courtesy
Examples of gentry in a Sentence
poor tenant farmers working for landed gentry
the old-line yachting gentry frowns on vulgar displays of wealth
Recent Examples on the Web
The nobles and gentry—the billionaires of Tudor England—made fortunes from the reclaimed monastery lands and created a myth of Henry’s military strength and English pride.
—Literary Hub, 29 Oct. 2025
Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Elordi plays Heathcliff, the romantic anti-hero who is discovered on the streets before being taken in by a wealthy member of Britain’s landed gentry, only to fall in love with their daughter.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gentry
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Literary Hub, 29 Oct. 2025
Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Elordi plays Heathcliff, the romantic anti-hero who is discovered on the streets before being taken in by a wealthy member of Britain’s landed gentry, only to fall in love with their daughter.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gentry
Cite this Entry
“Gentry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentry. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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