noun

heraldry

HERR-uhl-dree

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Heraldry (noun) means the art or profession of designing, granting and describing coats of arms, and of recording family lines and settling matters of rank and protocol. Example: “She spent her retirement studying heraldry and learning to describe shields in the proper technical language.”

noun

The art or profession of designing, granting and describing coats of arms, and of recording family lines and settling matters of rank and protocol.

"She spent her retirement studying heraldry and learning to describe shields in the proper technical language."

"The museum has a small exhibition on medieval heraldry."

"Knowledge of heraldry helped him identify whose banner was shown in the painting."

A particular armorial emblem together with its history and description.

"The heraldry on the church wall belongs to a family that once owned the estate."

"The two families' heraldries were combined on a single shield."

"The guide explained the history of the heraldry above the gate."

How to use heraldry

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe study and design of coats of arms and the rules that go with them.

When to use it

It is a fairly specialised word, most often met in historical, academic or ceremonial contexts.

Memory tip

Use heraldry for the subject or art, and heraldic as the adjective, as in a heraldic shield.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

heraldist herald →

Common pairings

medieval heraldry the study of heraldry family heraldry heraldry and genealogy

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She spent her retirement studying _____ and learning to describe shields in the proper technical language.

Etymology

The word was formed in English from herald and the suffix -ry, and it is first recorded in 1572. It replaced an earlier form, heraldy, which was built from herald and the suffix -y.

Origin: English

Frequently asked questions

What does heraldry mean?

Heraldry is the art or profession of designing and describing coats of arms. It also covers tracing family lines and deciding questions of rank and protocol.

How do you pronounce heraldry?

In British English it is pronounced HERR-uhl-dree, with the stress on the first syllable.

Is heraldry countable or uncountable?

When it means the art or profession, it is uncountable. When it means a particular armorial emblem with its history, it is countable and the plural is heraldries.

What is the meaning of heraldry?

"heraldry" (noun) means the art or profession of designing, granting and describing coats of arms, and of recording family lines and settling matters of rank and protocol.