peasantry

noun

peas·​ant·​ry ˈpe-zᵊn-trē 

1

: peasants

2

: the position, rank, or behavior of a peasant

Examples of peasantry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ecevit rallied workers, the small peasantry, and the lower, urban middle class with a call for social and economic justice and equality that successfully transcended the cultural divisions of Turkey—a fact made clear when Ecevit won even in Turkey’s most religiously conservative regions. —Halil Karaveli, Foreign Affairs, 14 July 2023

Five centuries later, the European peasantry has once again been goaded to fury. —Tilak Doshi, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

It’s centered around Tartu University, founded by Swedes in 1632, a time before the Russian occupation when the quality of life for Estonian peasantry declined rapidly. —Lisa Lucas, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024

In contrast, the Aramaic speaking peasantry were left to their own devices. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2012

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing peasantry

• the peasantry

Kids Definition

peasantry

noun

peas·​ant·​ry -ᵊn-trē 

: peasants as a group