nobility

noun

no·​bil·​i·​ty nō-ˈbi-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being noble in character, quality, or rank

2

: the body of persons forming the noble class in a country or state : aristocracy

Synonyms

• majesty
• brilliance
• elegance
• glory
• nobleness
• grandeur

Examples of nobility in a Sentence

the nobility of his character

They have shown great courage and nobility of purpose.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the series, Marie, an ambitious young woman of minor nobility, learns that her lung disease is terminal. —Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025

The film focuses on the power grabbing tête-à-tête between both Sarah and Abigail, with the latter even marrying a colonel in order to regain her nobility. —Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025

But in, say, the French Revolution, things got going in part because of the popular unrest and the popular upheavals, but also because there was an inner circle of members of the French nobility who were totally pissed at Louis XVI. —Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025

So there's a nobility in that, but also an ickiness. —Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nobilite, from Anglo-French nobilité, from Latin nobilitat-, nobilitas, from nobilis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nobility

• the nobility

Rhymes for nobility

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fertility
• fragility
• futility
• gentility
• hostility

Kids Definition

nobility

noun

no·​bil·​i·​ty nō-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural nobilities

1

: the quality or state of being noble

nobility of character

2

: the body of persons forming the noble class in a country or state

a member of the nobility