gentry

noun

gen·​try ˈjen-trē How to pronounce gentry (audio)
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 gentryR. G. Hanvey
3
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 Weather permitting but even in the occasional, rejuvenating drizzle, in wellies and hunting jackets like English gentry, Asher and Carol would tramp the grounds with the trio of dogs manic over every deer or rabbit. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2024 As Industry expands its scope outside the trading floor and into the halls of power—involving government officials, media moguls, and members of Britain’s landed gentry—the stakes are about more than just money. Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 7 Aug. 2024 The Shondaland series — in a departure from the Julia Quinn book series it's based on — presented a revisionist history in which Queen Charlotte's Black ancestry made way for beautiful, brooding BIPOC landed gentry like Regé-Jean Page's Duke Simon Basset. Alanna Bennett, refinery29.com, 24 June 2024 With party gentry seemingly oblivious to the problem, a constellation of local and state Democrats is seeking to rebuild the rural grass-roots Democratic Party. Jeff Bloodworth, Washington Post, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for gentry 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gentry.' 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

Middle English gentrie "high birth or rank, properties ideally characteristic of those of high birth, the wellborn collectively," borrowed from Anglo-French genterie "high birth," from gent "of aristocratic birth" + -erie -ery — more at gent entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Time Traveler
The first known use of gentry was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near gentry

Cite this Entry

“Gentry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentry. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

gentry

noun
gen·​try ˈjen-trē How to pronounce gentry (audio)
plural gentries
: people of high social status : aristocracy

More from Merriam-Webster on gentry

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