earldom

[ url-duhm ]

noun

1. Also called earlship. the rank or title of an earl.
2. the territory or jurisdiction of an earl.

ˈearldom

/ ˈɜːldəm /

noun

1. the rank, title, or dignity of an earl or countess
2. the lands of an earl or countess

Word History and Origins

Origin of earldom¹

before 1150; Middle English erldom, Old English eorldōm. See earl, -dom,

Example Sentences

He gave up an inherited earldom in 1994 in order to keep voting in the Commons.

From BBC

Can I have a courtesy title while I wait to inherit an earldom?

From The Guardian

Mark Phillips refused the offer of an earldom when he married so their children do not have courtesy titles.

From BBC

The Queen could decide to give Jack a title ahead of his wedding - possibly an earldom.

From BBC

My aunt, now in her nineties, grew up partly in the house of her grandfather, the heir to an earldom.

From The New Yorker