gentry

[ jen-tree ]

noun

1. wellborn and well-bred people.
2. (in England) the class below the nobility.
3. an upper or ruling class; aristocracy.
4. those who are not members of the nobility but are entitled to a coat of arms, especially those owning large tracts of land.
5. (used with a plural verb) people, especially considered as a specific group, class, or kind:

   The polo crowd doesn't go there, but these hockey gentry do.

6. the state or condition of being a gentleman.

gentry

/ ˈdʒɛntrɪ /

noun

1. persons of high birth or social standing; aristocracy
2. persons just below the nobility in social rank
3. informal.
   people, esp of a particular group or kind

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentry¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English word from Old French word genterie. See gentile, gentle

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentry¹

C14: from Old French genterie, from gentil gentle

Example Sentences

One was based on class power of early merchant capitalists and the other based on the caste power of the Southern white gentry.

From Salon

Newsom, for all his highfalutin rhetoric about championing all Californians, just can’t quit the gentry and the insiders who have made his career.

From Los Angeles Times

Firstly, Holyrood is a democratically elected house rather than an assembly of aristocrats and the landed gentry.

From BBC

“He’s making the point that the British landed gentry aristocracy really are the original gangsters of the British class society,” says Daniel Ings, who plays the duke’s older brother.

From Seattle Times

Dr. Guy says that dropping the "ap" was a change which happened over time, and that the gentry led, with the rest of the population then following.

From BBC

Related Words

• aristocracy