peasant

[ pez-uhnt ]

noun

1. a member of a class of persons, as in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social rank.
2. a coarse, unsophisticated, boorish, uneducated person of little financial means.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of peasants or their traditions, way of life, crafts, etc.
2. of or designating a style of clothing modeled on the folk costumes of Western cultures, especially women's full-sleeved, round-necked blouses and long, full skirts.

peasant

/ ˈpɛzənt /

noun

1. 1. a member of a class of low social status that depends on either cottage industry or agricultural labour as a means of subsistence
   2. ( as modifier )

      peasant dress

2. informal.
   a person who lives in the country; rustic
3. informal.
   an uncouth or uncultured person

peasant

1. A farmer or agricultural worker of low status . The word is applied chiefly to agricultural workers in Asia , Europe , and South America , who generally adhere to traditional agricultural practices and have little social mobility or freedom.

Other Words From

• peasant·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peasant¹

1375–1425; late Middle English paissaunt < Anglo-French paisant, Old French païsant, earlier païsenc, equivalent to païs country (< Late Latin pāgēnsis, equivalent to Latin pāg ( us ) country district + -ēnsis -ensis ) + -enc < Germanic ( -ing ³ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of peasant¹

C15: from Anglo-French, from Old French païsant, from païs country, from Latin pāgus rural area; see pagan

Example Sentences

In the late 1960s, Fred was a humanitarian-aid volunteer in Laos when he discovered that his country was taking the lives of peasants there by the thousands.

From Salon

That includes marrying a much older, undead Greek peasant shunned by this social caste’s peers.

From Salon

The lone woman residing at the vampire house, Nadja grew up as a poor peasant girl on the island of Antipaxos.

From Los Angeles Times

One popular conspiracy theory held that the houses of respectable Protestant families were being raffled off in Catholic churches, to be invaded by unwashed broods of Irish peasants as soon as home rule was established.

From Salon

Instead, it brings the 17th century society vividly to life through a historically accurate spoken and visual language, which includes thousands of costumes for warlords, armies, peasants, courtesans and a bunch of shipwrecked European sailors.

From Los Angeles Times