the peasantry
noun
: all the peasants living in an area or country
He tried to organize the peasantry for a revolt.
the Russian peasantry
Examples of the peasantry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The sojourn launched his interest in Southeast Asia, the peasantry, and the formation of states.
—
Nikil Saval, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Ellen and Anna’s corseted gowns and bonnets add to the period ambience, as do the men’s suits and fancy waistcoats and the rustic garb of the peasantry.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2024
Mao sought to mobilize the peasantry, stoking revolutionary fervor and social upheaval at home and abroad.
—Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2021
Mao and his colleagues channeled local religious practice to proselytize among the peasantry.
—Nick Frisch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2017
Young Leo Tolstoy served as army officer during the siege of Sevastopol, and the extraordinary resilience of ordinary Russians defending the city opened his eyes to the virtues of the peasantry.
—Susan Richards, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2014
The demonstrations were not confined to Beijing and had the support of elements of the working class and the peasantry.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
By the autumn of 1848, the old regimes were on the march—with the peasantry firmly behind them and bolstered by a vast Russian army.
—James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
The philosophical difference between Maoism and Marxism–Leninism is that the peasantry are the revolutionary vanguard in pre-industrial societies rather than the proletariat.
—Matt B. Weir, Harper's Magazine, 11 Jan. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nikil Saval, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Ellen and Anna’s corseted gowns and bonnets add to the period ambience, as do the men’s suits and fancy waistcoats and the rustic garb of the peasantry.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2024
Mao sought to mobilize the peasantry, stoking revolutionary fervor and social upheaval at home and abroad.
—Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2021
Mao and his colleagues channeled local religious practice to proselytize among the peasantry.
—Nick Frisch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2017
Young Leo Tolstoy served as army officer during the siege of Sevastopol, and the extraordinary resilience of ordinary Russians defending the city opened his eyes to the virtues of the peasantry.
—Susan Richards, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2014
The demonstrations were not confined to Beijing and had the support of elements of the working class and the peasantry.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
By the autumn of 1848, the old regimes were on the march—with the peasantry firmly behind them and bolstered by a vast Russian army.
—James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
The philosophical difference between Maoism and Marxism–Leninism is that the peasantry are the revolutionary vanguard in pre-industrial societies rather than the proletariat.
—Matt B. Weir, Harper's Magazine, 11 Jan. 2022
Cite this Entry
“The peasantry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20peasantry. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share