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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

nobility

noh-BIH-lih-tee

Nobility (noun) means the aristocratic social class, historically holding hereditary titles and privilege. Example: “The nobility once controlled most of the land in the kingdom.”

noun
1
The aristocratic social class, historically holding hereditary titles and privilege.
"The nobility once controlled most of the land in the kingdom."
2
The quality of having high moral character or dignity.
"There was a quiet nobility in how she handled the setback."

How to use nobility

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the upper social class with inherited titles, or admirable moral character.

Common pairings
landed nobility nobility of spirit title of nobility

Word forms

nobilities plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ once controlled most of the land in the kingdom.

Etymology

From Old French nobilité, from Latin nobilitas, built on "noble" plus "-ity."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for nobility

See all rhymes for nobility →

Frequently asked questions

What does “nobility” mean?

The word “nobility” means the aristocratic social class, historically holding hereditary titles and privilege. In plain terms, either the upper social class with inherited titles, or admirable moral character.

How do you pronounce “nobility”?

“Nobility” is pronounced noh-BIH-lih-tee (/noʊˈbɪlɪti/ in IPA).

How do you use “nobility” in a sentence?

Here is “nobility” used in a sentence: “The nobility once controlled most of the land in the kingdom.”

What part of speech is “nobility”?

“Nobility” is a noun.

Where does the word “nobility” come from?

The word “nobility” comes from Latin. From Old French nobilité, from Latin nobilitas, built on "noble" plus "-ity.".

Is “nobility” a common word?

“Nobility” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “nobility” have?

“Nobility” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the aristocratic social class, historically holding hereditary titles and privilege.

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