earl
noun
ˈər(-ə)l 
: a member of the British peerage ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
earldom
ˈər(-ə)l-dəm
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In 2004, Granovski found a partner in Raymond Asquith, great-grandson of the early–twentieth-century Prime Minister H.H. Asquith, and now himself the earl of Oxford and Asquith. 
Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 24 Aug. 2022 The earl had planned to have these ancient treasures grace Broomhall, his country house in Scotland. New York Times, 8 July 2022 Eventually, Edward caved and agreed to strip Piers of his title as earl of Cornwall and exile him. Anne Thériault, Longreads, 21 June 2022 Meghan joined the royal family as a 36-year-old biracial American actress; Diana, as the 20-year-old daughter of a British earl. Phil Boucher, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 The Kentucky Derby and all the other Derbys around the world take their name from the earl. William Booth, Washington Post, 4 June 2022 Her parents chose more subdued royal titles and, with the permission of the Queen, gave their children titles in the style of an earl rather than prince and princess, according to The Independent. Cnn Staff, CNN, 2 June 2022 Beneath the crane is Villa Altachiara, a 30-room mansion built in the late 19th century by a British earl. New York Times, 1 June 2022 So when Michael becomes an earl and Francesca is suddenly single, one passionate night might prove that these two are meant to be. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 24 Mar. 2022 See More
Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 24 Aug. 2022 The earl had planned to have these ancient treasures grace Broomhall, his country house in Scotland. New York Times, 8 July 2022 Eventually, Edward caved and agreed to strip Piers of his title as earl of Cornwall and exile him. Anne Thériault, Longreads, 21 June 2022 Meghan joined the royal family as a 36-year-old biracial American actress; Diana, as the 20-year-old daughter of a British earl. Phil Boucher, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 The Kentucky Derby and all the other Derbys around the world take their name from the earl. William Booth, Washington Post, 4 June 2022 Her parents chose more subdued royal titles and, with the permission of the Queen, gave their children titles in the style of an earl rather than prince and princess, according to The Independent. Cnn Staff, CNN, 2 June 2022 Beneath the crane is Villa Altachiara, a 30-room mansion built in the late 19th century by a British earl. New York Times, 1 June 2022 So when Michael becomes an earl and Francesca is suddenly single, one passionate night might prove that these two are meant to be. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 24 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English erl, from Old English eorl warrior, nobleman; akin to Old Norse jarl warrior, nobleman
First Known Use
12th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing earl
Kids Definition
earl
noun
ˈərl
: a member of the British nobility who ranks below a marquess and above a viscount
earl
noun
as in duke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- duke
- viscount
- marquess
- baron
- baronet
- prince
- esquire
- margrave
- marquis
- princeling
- raja
- hidalgo
- marchese
- seigneur
- sheik
- nawab
- nabob
- sheikh
- chevalier
- master
- count
- don
- seignior
- knight
- lordship
- princelet
- nobleman
- squire
- cavalier
- sire
- milord
- lord
- grandee
- country gentleman
- gentleman
- peer
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peasant
- cotter
- boor
- commoner
- churl
- fellah
- peon
- cottar
- plebeian
- proletarian
- pleb
- toiler