first estate

noun

often capitalized F&E
: the first of the traditional political estates
specifically : clergy

Examples of first estate in a Sentence

a nation in which the first estate had long held a privileged position

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of first estate was in 1935

Dictionary Entries Near first estate

Cite this Entry

“First estate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20estate. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!