marquess

noun

mar·​quess ˈmär-kwəs 

variants or marquis

ˈmär-kwəs 

mär-ˈkē

plural marquesses or marquises ˈmär-kwə-səz  or marquis mär-ˈkē(z) 

1

: a nobleman of hereditary rank in Europe and Japan

2

: a member of the British peerage ranking below a duke and above an earl

marquessate

ˈmär-kwə-sət 

noun

or marquisate

ˈmär-kwə-zət 

-sət

Examples of marquess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Hotel Due Mari, a 17th-century aristocratic villa formerly owned by the marquesses of Bolasco, sits between Sestri’s two bays. — Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

The marquess, however, decided not to buy the painting, which belongs to a private collection and, before now, has only ever been on public display once. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Mar. 2026

The agreement with the marquess allows Kays to take up to 25,000 tons of granite off the island by 2050. — Matt Slater, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026

So far, so normal for the daughter of a marquess (the late Lord Caterham). — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English marquis, markis, from Anglo-French marquys, markys, from marche march

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

marquess

noun

mar·​quess ˈmär-kwəs 

1

: a nobleman of hereditary rank in Europe and Japan

2

: a British nobleman ranking below a duke and above an earl