peerage

[ peer-ij ]

noun

1. the body of peers of a country or state.
2. the rank or dignity of a peer.
3. a book listing the peers and giving their genealogies.

peerage

/ ˈpɪərɪdʒ /

noun

1. the whole body of peers; aristocracy
2. the position, rank, or title of a peer
3. (esp in the British Isles) a book listing the peers and giving genealogical and other information about them

Word History and Origins

Origin of peerage¹

First recorded in 1425–75, peerage is from the late Middle English word perage. See peer ², -age

Example Sentences

JK Rowling has revealed she turned down two offers of a peerage in the House of Lords and would turn down a third.

From BBC

Owen became the youngest person ever to receive a life peerage, at the age of 29, after just six years at Westminster in relatively junior roles.

From BBC

Britten was later created a life peer, the first musician or composer to be elevated to the peerage.

From BBC

Viscount Stansgate, whose father Tony Benn renounced his peerage to sit in the Commons, is one of two Labour hereditary peers.

From BBC

Granted a peerage in 2011, she went to the House of Lords where, as Baroness Morgan of Ely, she was a shadow minister for Wales.

From BBC

Related Words

• dignity
• generosity
• grandeur
• greatness
• integrity
• superiority
• upper class
• virtue