gentry

UK: /ˈdʒɛntri/ US: /ˈdʒɛntri/ ,( jen′trē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

gen•try /ˈdʒɛntri/   n. [plural]

1. wellborn and well-bred people, as of an aristocracy.

See -gen-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

gen•try  ( jen′trē), n. 

1. wellborn and well-bred people.
2. World History (in England) the class below the nobility.
3. World History an upper or ruling class;
   aristocracy.
4. World History those who are not members of the nobility but are entitled to a coat of arms, esp. those owning large tracts of land.
5. (used with a pl. v.) people, esp. considered as a specific group, class, or kind:
   The polo crowd doesn't go there, but these hockey gentry do.
6. the state or condition of being a gentleman.

• Old French genterie. See gentile, gentle
• Middle English 1275–1325

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gentry / ˈdʒɛntrɪ/ noun

1. persons just below the nobility in social rank
2. people, esp of a particular group or kind

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French genterie, from gentil gentle