noble

[ noh-buhl ]

adjective

, no·bler, no·blest.

1. distinguished by rank or title.
2. pertaining to persons so distinguished.
3. of, belonging to, or constituting a hereditary class that has special social or political status in a country or state; of or pertaining to the aristocracy.

   Synonyms: blue-blooded, patrician, aristocratic, highborn

   Antonyms: working-class, middle-class, lower-class, common, lowborn, baseborn, bourgeois

4. of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence:

   a noble thought.

   Synonyms: worthy, estimable, honorable, magnanimous, principled, high-minded, elevated, lofty, meritorious

   Antonyms: common, vulgar, base, ignoble

5. admirable in dignity of conception, manner of expression, execution, or composition:

   a noble poem.

   Synonyms: august, dignified, grand

   Antonyms: unrespected, undignified, disreputable

6. very impressive or imposing in appearance:

   a noble monument.

   Synonyms: imperial, regal, impressive, splendid, imposing, magnificent, stately, grand, majestic, lordly

   Antonyms: ordinary, plain, modest, paltry, mean, insignificant

7. of an admirably high quality; notably superior; excellent

   Synonyms: exceptional, exemplary, outstanding, notable, noteworthy

   Antonyms: unexceptional, ordinary, inferior

8. famous; illustrious; renowned.

   Synonyms: distinguished, celebrated, famed

   Antonyms: obscure, unknown, remarkable

9. Chemistry. inert; chemically inactive.
10. Falconry. (of a hawk) having excellent qualities or abilities.

noun

1. a person of noble birth or rank; nobleman or noblewoman.

   Synonyms: patrician, blue blood, aristocrat, peer

   Antonyms: peasant, serf, commoner

2. a former gold coin of England, first issued in 1346 by Edward III, equal to half a mark or 6s. 8d., replaced in 1464 under Edward IV by the rose noble.
3. (in Britain) a peer.

noble

/ ˈnəʊbəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a hereditary class with special social or political status, often derived from a feudal period
2. of or characterized by high moral qualities; magnanimous

   a noble deed

3. having dignity or eminence; illustrious
4. grand or imposing; magnificent

   a noble avenue of trees

5. of superior quality or kind; excellent

   a noble strain of horses

6. chem
   1. (of certain elements) chemically unreactive
   2. (of certain metals, esp copper, silver, and gold) resisting oxidation
7. falconry
   1. designating long-winged falcons that capture their quarry by stooping on it from above Compare ignoble
   2. designating the type of quarry appropriate to a particular species of falcon

noun

1. a person belonging to a privileged social or political class whose status is usually indicated by a title conferred by sovereign authority or descent
2. (in the British Isles) a person holding the title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron, or a feminine equivalent
3. a former Brit gold coin having the value of one third of a pound

Derived Forms

• ˈnobleness, noun
• ˈnobly, adverb

Other Words From

• noble·ness noun
• non·noble adjective
• over·noble adjective
• over·noble·ness noun
• over·nob·ly adverb
• pseudo·noble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of noble¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin (g)nōbilis “notable, of high rank,” equivalent to (g)nō-, root of (g)nōscere “to get to know, find out” + -bilis adjective suffix; know ¹, -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of noble¹

C13: via Old French from Latin nōbilis, originally, capable of being known, hence well-known, noble, from noscere to know

Synonym Study

Noble, high-minded, magnanimous agree in referring to lofty principles and loftiness of mind or spirit. Noble implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable: a noble deed. High-minded implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them: a high-minded pursuit of legal reforms. Magnanimous suggests greatness of mind or soul, especially as manifested in generosity or in overlooking injuries: magnanimous toward his former enemies.

Example Sentences

The filmmakers plant the stationary camera in front of their subjects, which gives them a status akin to noble portraiture.

From Eater

Even the noblest of ambitions in terms of capturing all forms of human beauty may not have a chance because the brightness values aren’t even represented accurately.

From MIT Technology Review

Despite his noble ties, Bartini was raised by a peasant family before Lodovico eventually acknowledged him.

From Ozy

Today, there can hardly be a more noble mission than helping America – and the world – usher in a new era of healthy aging by re-engaging and re-committing to the defeat of Alzheimer’s.

From Time

The military was the noblest and best part of the nation, but that’s completely gone.

From Nautilus

The skateboarder is as irredeemably evil as the others are noble.

From The Daily Beast

If the noble experiment of American democracy is to mean anything, it is fidelity to the principle of freedom.

From The Daily Beast

And the string of episodes that aired before that were gripping, noble, and simply entertaining to watch.

From The Daily Beast

She was one of the wealthiest women in the world and certainly the most eccentric noble of her time.

From The Daily Beast

And after the Driscoll story broke, another megapastor, Perry Noble, admitted to using ResultSource on one of his book projects.

From The Daily Beast

I find myself chained to the foot of a woman, my noble Cornelia would despise!

From Project Gutenberg

What course was taken to supply that assembly when any noble family became extinct?

From Project Gutenberg

He remembered how his father had execrated this noble enemy, even at the time he declared his worth.

From Project Gutenberg

And when wine had unselfed my noble father, you received his passionate insults with forbearance and forgiveness!

From Project Gutenberg

The consequence of this quarrel was that, early in 1794, he found himself accused as a ci-devant noble.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• benevolent
• brilliant
• charitable
• dignified
• distinguished
• extraordinary
• gracious
• grand
• great
• high-minded
• honorable
• humane
• imposing
• lofty
• magnificent
• splendid
• virtuous
• worthy