gentry
2 synonyms for gentry, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — People of high social standing and good breeding, especially landowners ranked just below the nobility.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
the quality
How to use gentry
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
landed gentry
country gentry
local gentry
Mostly used in historical or British social contexts.
Etymology
From Old French genterie ("noble people collectively"), from gent ("well-born") plus the suffix -erie.
Full origin of gentry →Frequently asked questions
What does “gentry” mean?
The word “gentry” means people of high social standing and good breeding, especially landowners ranked just below the nobility. In plain terms, wealthy, well-bred landowning families ranked between ordinary people and the titled nobility.
How do you pronounce “gentry”?
“Gentry” is pronounced JEHNT-ree (/ˈd͡ʒɛntɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “gentry” in a sentence?
Here is “gentry” used in a sentence: “The country gentry attended the annual hunt ball.”
What is another word for “gentry”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gentry” include the quality.
What part of speech is “gentry”?
“Gentry” is a noun.
Where does the word “gentry” come from?
The word “gentry” comes from Old French. From Old French genterie ("noble people collectively"), from gent ("well-born") plus the suffix -erie.
Is “gentry” a common word?
“Gentry” is an uncommon word in modern English.
