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

The Whitehaven neighborhood had developed in the late 19th century and attracted as residents the Memphis gentry. —Michael T. Bertrand, The Conversation, 5 June 2024

Weather permitting but even in the occasional, rejuvenating drizzle, in wellies and hunting jackets like English gentry, Asher and Carol would tramp the grounds with the trio of dogs manic over every deer or rabbit. —Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2024

As Industry expands its scope outside the trading floor and into the halls of power—involving government officials, media moguls, and members of Britain’s landed gentry—the stakes are about more than just money. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 7 Aug. 2024

The Shondaland series — in a departure from the Julia Quinn book series it's based on — presented a revisionist history in which Queen Charlotte's Black ancestry made way for beautiful, brooding BIPOC landed gentry like Regé-Jean Page's Duke Simon Basset. —Alanna Bennett, refinery29.com, 24 June 2024

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

Kids Definition

gentry

noun

gen·​try ˈjen-trē 

plural gentries

: people of high social status : aristocracy