noun
gentry
JEHNT-ree
noun
1
People of high social standing and good breeding, especially landowners ranked just below the nobility.
"The country gentry attended the annual hunt ball."
"His family had been part of the local gentry for generations."
How to Use Gentry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWealthy, well-bred landowning families ranked between ordinary people and the titled nobility.
When to use it
Mostly used in historical or British social contexts.
Common pairings
landed gentry
country gentry
local gentry
Word Forms
gentries plural
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The country _____ attended the annual hunt ball.
Etymology
From Old French genterie ("noble people collectively"), from gent ("well-born") plus the suffix -erie.