noblesse

/ nəʊˈblɛs /

noun

1. noble birth or condition
2. the noble class

Word History and Origins

Origin of noblesse¹

C13: from Old French; see noble

Example Sentences

There might be just a dash of noblesse oblige in there, too, a little well-intentioned clemency from soccer’s great conqueror.

From New York Times

His noblesse oblige masked a steely newsman who stood by his publication and industry whenever they were under attack.

From Los Angeles Times

It's the "noblesse oblige" posturing of 19th-century industrialists, who pretended that building a few museums made up for grinding underpaid workers into dust.

From Salon

Given the vast wealth gap between likely patrons and these portrait-subjects, the question creates an inescapable aura of noblesse oblige.

From Los Angeles Times

Today, Beek and his family run it out of a sense of noblesse oblige.

From Los Angeles Times