peasant

noun

peas·​ant ˈpe-zᵊnt 

1

: a member of a European class of persons tilling the soil as small landowners or as laborers

This land was farmed by peasants for centuries.

also : a member of a similar class elsewhere

2

: a usually uneducated person of low social status

They treated us like a bunch of peasants.

Examples of peasant in a Sentence

They treated us like a bunch of peasants.

Recent Examples on the Web

These chapters reinforce the insight of the old peasant, that the meaning of things is in the living of our lives day by day. —Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026

Peasant Blouses Perhaps the easy way to get in on the Wuthering Heights hype is with a breezy, ethereal peasant blouse. —Eva Thomas, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026

Both were the children of peasant farmers and had grown up in homes made of adobe and sticks. —Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026

The imperial kilns were likely shut down about 20 years later, following the invasion of the Red Turbans, a peasant rebellion movement, narrowing the window in which this ship could have sunk. —Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English paissaunt, from Anglo-French paisant, pesaunt, from pais, paiis country, from Late Latin pagensis inhabitant of a district, from Latin pagus district; akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for peasant

• pheasant
• pleasant
• present
• omnipresent
• unpleasant

Kids Definition

peasant

noun

peas·​ant ˈpez-ᵊnt 

1

: a European small farmer or farm laborer

2

: a member of a similar agricultural class elsewhere