gentry

noun

gen·​try ˈjen-trē 

plural gentries

1

a

: upper or ruling class : aristocracy

b

: a class whose members are entitled to bear a coat of arms though not of noble rank

especially : wealthy landowners having such status

2

: people of a specified class or kind : folks

no real heroes or heroines among the academic gentry

—R. G. Hanvey

3

a

: the condition or rank of a gentleman

b

obsolete : the qualities appropriate to a person of gentle (see gentle entry 1 sense 4a) birth

especially : courtesy

Synonyms

• aristocracy
• elite
• gentility
• gentlefolk
• gentlefolks
• nobility
• patriciate
• quality
• upper class
• upper crust

Examples of gentry in a Sentence

poor tenant farmers working for landed gentry

the old-line yachting gentry frowns on vulgar displays of wealth

Recent Examples on the Web

In particular, Gilbert’s primary satire, of the English gentry, is unsalvageable. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

But to assume the weekend was all the sanctum of the media landed gentry would be to assume wrong. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2025

Extreme caricatures of secondary figures (ancient maid, assorted daft gentry) keep us at an even further remove than the cameras do. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Because the imperial bureaucracy wasn’t large and did not penetrate to small towns or villages, much of local life was run by this gentry. —Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gentrie "high birth or rank, properties ideally characteristic of those of high birth, the wellborn collectively," borrowed from Anglo-French genterie "high birth," from gent "of aristocratic birth" + -erie -ery — more at gent entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Phrases Containing gentry

• the gentry
• the landed gentry

Rhymes for gentry

• entry
• sentry
• complementary
• elementary

Kids Definition

gentry

noun

gen·​try ˈjen-trē 

plural gentries

: people of high social status : aristocracy