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
This differed from Europe, where land ownership was immobilized by gentry classes who housed and employed farmers.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 June 2025
These bodies have historically overwhelmingly catered to a tiny sliver of the population — predominantly white, gentry liberals.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
Members of Virginia’s gentry chafed at this ban, and Washington had spent years lobbying Dunmore to use his influence to reverse this restriction.
—Andrew Lawler, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025
In particular, Gilbert’s primary satire, of the English gentry, is unsalvageable.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gentry
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Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 June 2025
These bodies have historically overwhelmingly catered to a tiny sliver of the population — predominantly white, gentry liberals.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
Members of Virginia’s gentry chafed at this ban, and Washington had spent years lobbying Dunmore to use his influence to reverse this restriction.
—Andrew Lawler, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025
In particular, Gilbert’s primary satire, of the English gentry, is unsalvageable.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 25 Apr. 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 2 Jul. 2025.
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