plural marquesses or marquises
ˈmär-kwə-səz 
or marquis
mär-ˈkē(z)
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
mar·quess·ate
variants
or marquisate
plural -s
1
: the domain or territory of a marquess or marchioness
2
: the rank or dignity of a marquess or marchioness
Examples of marquess in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
And while King Charles did not make Kerry a duke, an earl, a marquess, viscount or a baron, the knighthood was royal stuff enough.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
Seat of the Cholmondeley family for centuries, the Norfolk pile has also become one of the nation’s most galvanizing stages for contemporary art, thanks to David Cholmondeley, the filmmaker seventh marquess of the line, and his wife, Rose.
—Mitchell Owens, Architectural Digest, 2 Aug. 2024
An early Titian masterpiece — once looted by Napolean’s troops and a part of royal collections for centuries — caused a stir when it was stolen from the home of a British marquess in 1995.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
Upon the death of the painting’s next owner, a Scottish landowner, it was sold by Christie’s to John Alexander Thynne, the fourth marquess of Bath, England.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 16 June 2024
With James' support, George became an earl, a marquess and ultimately a duke (a rarity for nonroyals).
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
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Noun
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
And while King Charles did not make Kerry a duke, an earl, a marquess, viscount or a baron, the knighthood was royal stuff enough.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
Seat of the Cholmondeley family for centuries, the Norfolk pile has also become one of the nation’s most galvanizing stages for contemporary art, thanks to David Cholmondeley, the filmmaker seventh marquess of the line, and his wife, Rose.
—Mitchell Owens, Architectural Digest, 2 Aug. 2024
An early Titian masterpiece — once looted by Napolean’s troops and a part of royal collections for centuries — caused a stir when it was stolen from the home of a British marquess in 1995.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
Upon the death of the painting’s next owner, a Scottish landowner, it was sold by Christie’s to John Alexander Thynne, the fourth marquess of Bath, England.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 16 June 2024
With James' support, George became an earl, a marquess and ultimately a duke (a rarity for nonroyals).
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Marquess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marquess. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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