marquess

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

marquise

2 of 2

noun (2)

mar·​quise mär-ˈkēz 

plural marquises mär-ˈkēz 

-ˈkē-zəz

1

: marchioness

2

: marquee

3

: a gem or a ring setting or bezel usually elliptical in shape but with pointed ends

Examples of marquess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

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

Noun

Younger consumers are also gravitating toward personalization and distinctive engagement-ring designs, including oval and marquise shapes. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

The couple picked out a diamond and emerald ring from Van Cleef & Arpels that was later redesigned with marquise diamonds. — Freya Drohan, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

French, feminine of marquis

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1503, 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