The nobility of a society are all the people who have titles and belong to a high social class.
They married into the nobility and entered the highest ranks of state administration.
Despite its lack of formal power the nobility was not powerless.
Synonyms: aristocracy, lords, elite, nobles More Synonyms of nobility
2. uncountable noun
A person's nobility is their noble character and behaviour.
[formal]
...his nobility of character, and his devotion to his country. [+ of]
More Synonyms of nobility
nobility in British English
(nəʊˈbɪlɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
a socially or politically privileged class whose titles are conferred by descent or by royal decree
2.
the state or quality of being morally or spiritually good; dignity
the nobility of his mind
3.
(in the British Isles) the class of people holding the titles of dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, or barons and their feminine equivalents collectively; peerage
nobility in American English
(noʊˈbɪləti)
nounWord forms: pluralnoˈbilities
1.
the quality or state of being noble
2.
high station or rank in society, esp. when accompanied by a title
3.
the class of people of noble rank or having hereditary titles: usually limited in Great Britain to the peerage
usually with the
Word origin
ME nobilite < OFr nobilité < L nobilitas
Examples of 'nobility' in a sentence
nobility
Music of the highest nobility crawled forth like toothpaste squeezed from an unending tube.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There is a nobility to these characters.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Because the nobility of character and action once sent into the world does not return again empty.
John Garth TOLKIEN AND THE GREAT WAR: The Threshold of Middle-earth (2003)
But the political power of the nobility finally declined.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
The Scottish nobility knew all about managing the power of a monarch with worrying ideas in matters of religion.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
The sons of the nobility and gentry were counselled to "Consort yourself with gentlemen of your own rank and quality.
Rodney Bolt HISTORY PLAY: The Lives and After-life of Christopher Marlowe (2004)
As a result, many gentry and nobility families abandoned their country houses for large parts of the autumn and winter.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
The parade was crowded with nobility and gentry, and I had to pull past them in this ridiculous fashion.
Jerome K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat (1889)
Quotations
New nobility is but the act of power, but ancient nobility is the act of timeFrancis BaconEssays
In other languages
nobility
British English: nobility NOUN
The nobility of a society are all the people who have titles and belong to a high social class.
They married into the nobility.
American English: nobility
Brazilian Portuguese: nobreza
Chinese: 贵族阶层
European Spanish: nobleza
French: noblesse
German: Adel
Italian: nobiltà
Japanese: 貴族
Korean: 귀족 계급
European Portuguese: nobreza
Latin American Spanish: nobleza
Chinese translation of 'nobility'
nobility
(nəuˈbɪlɪtɪ)
n
(u) (= quality) 高尚 (gāoshàng)
the nobility贵(貴)族 (guìzú)
1 (noun)
Definition
the class of people who hold titles and high social rank
They married into the nobility and entered the highest ranks of society.
Synonyms
aristocracy
a member of the aristocracy
lords
elite
a government comprised mainly of the elite
nobles
upper class
Many of the British upper classes are no longer very rich.
peerage
the higher echelons of the British peerage
ruling class
patricians
high society
2 (noun)
Definition
the quality of being noble
I found Mr. Mandela supremely courteous, with a genuine nobility of bearing.
Synonyms
dignity
Everyone admired her extraordinary dignity and composure.
majesty
the majesty of the mainland mountains
greatness
grandeur
He is wholly concerned with his own grandeur.
magnificence
I shall never forget the magnificence of the Swiss mountains.
stateliness
nobleness
3 (noun)
Definition
the quality of being noble
There can be no doubt about the remarkable strength and nobility of her character.
Synonyms
integrity
I have always regarded him as a man of integrity.
honour
I can no longer serve with honour as a member of your government.
virtue
His mother was held up to the family as a paragon of virtue.
goodness
He retains his faith in human goodness.
honesty
It's time for complete honesty from political representatives.
righteousness
adopting a tone of moral righteousness
probity (formal)
a woman renowned for her moral probity
rectitude
people of the utmost rectitude
worthiness
incorruptibility
uprightness
a contest in which courage and uprightness win through
excellence
a school once noted for its academic excellence
superiority
eminence
pilots who achieved eminence in the aeronautical world
illustriousness
related words
related adjectivenobiliary
subject word lists
See Ranks of British nobility (in order of precedence)See Ranks of foreign nobility
Quotation
New nobility is but the act of power, but ancient nobility is the act of time [Francis Bacon – Essays]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of elite
Definition
the most powerful, rich, or gifted members of a group or community
a government comprised mainly of the elite
Synonyms
aristocracy,
best,
pick,
elect,
cream,
upper class,
nobility,
gentry,
high society,
the crème de la crème,
flower,
nonpareil
in the sense of eminence
Definition
the state of being well-known and well-respected
pilots who achieved eminence in the aeronautical world
Synonyms
prominence,
reputation,
importance,
fame,
celebrity,
distinction,
note,
esteem,
rank,
dignity,
prestige,
superiority,
greatness,
renown,
pre-eminence,
repute,
notability,
illustriousness
in the sense of excellence
Definition
the quality of being exceptionally good
a school once noted for its academic excellence
Synonyms
high quality,
worth,
merit,
distinction,
virtue,
goodness,
perfection,
superiority,
purity,
greatness,
supremacy,
eminence,
virtuosity,
transcendence,
pre-eminence,
fineness
Nearby words of
nobility
nob
nobble
nobbly
nobility
noble
nobody
nocturnal
Synonyms of 'nobility'
nobility
Explore 'nobility' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of goodness
Definition
the quality of being good
He retains his faith in human goodness.
Synonyms
virtue,
honour,
merit,
integrity,
morality,
honesty,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
uprightness
in the sense of grandeur
Definition
personal greatness, dignity, or nobility
He is wholly concerned with his own grandeur.
Synonyms
importance,
status,
prestige,
standing,
dignity,
prominence,
greatness,
nobility,
loftiness,
augustness
in the sense of honesty
Definition
the quality of being truthful and trustworthy
It's time for complete honesty from political representatives.
Synonyms
integrity,
honour,
virtue,
morality,
fidelity,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
veracity,
faithfulness,
truthfulness,
trustworthiness,
straightness,
incorruptibility,
scrupulousness,
uprightness,
reputability
in the sense of honour
Definition
allegiance to moral principles
I can no longer serve with honour as a member of your government.
Synonyms
integrity,
principles,
morality,
honesty,
goodness,
fairness,
decency,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
trustworthiness,
uprightness
in the sense of incorruptibility
Synonyms
integrity,
honour,
honesty,
uprightness,
justness
in the sense of magnificence
I shall never forget the magnificence of the Swiss mountains.
Synonyms
splendour,
glory,
majesty,
grandeur,
brilliance,
nobility,
gorgeousness,
sumptuousness,
sublimity,
resplendence
in the sense of majesty
Definition
great dignity and grandeur
the majesty of the mainland mountains
Synonyms
grandeur,
glory,
splendour,
magnificence,
dignity,
nobility,
sublimity,
loftiness,
impressiveness,
awesomeness,
exaltedness
in the sense of peerage
Definition
the whole body of peers
the higher echelons of the British peerage
Synonyms
aristocracy,
peers,
nobility,
lords and ladies,
titled classes
in the sense of probity
Definition
honesty
a woman renowned for her moral probity
Synonyms
integrity,
worth,
justice,
honour,
equity,
virtue,
goodness,
morality,
honesty,
fairness,
fidelity,
sincerity,
righteousness,
rectitude,
truthfulness,
trustworthiness,
uprightness
in the sense of rectitude
Definition
moral or religious correctness
people of the utmost rectitude
Synonyms
morality,
principle,
honour,
virtue,
decency,
justice,
equity,
integrity,
goodness,
honesty,
correctness,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
incorruptibility,
scrupulousness,
uprightness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of righteousness
adopting a tone of moral righteousness
Synonyms
virtue,
justice,
honour,
equity,
integrity,
goodness,
morality,
honesty,
purity,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
faithfulness,
uprightness,
blamelessness,
ethicalness
in the sense of upper class
Definition
the highest social class
Many of the British upper classes are no longer very rich.
Synonyms
aristocracy,
nobility,
gentry,
peerage,
ruling class,
upper crust (informal),
elite,
haut monde
in the sense of uprightness
a contest in which courage and uprightness win through
Synonyms
honesty,
justice,
virtue,
integrity,
goodness,
fairness,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
faithfulness,
trustworthiness,
straightforwardness,
high-mindedness,
incorruptibility
in the sense of virtue
Definition
moral goodness
His mother was held up to the family as a paragon of virtue.