peasant

noun

peas·​ant ˈpe-zᵊnt How to pronounce peasant (audio)
Synonyms of peasantnext
1
: a member of a European class of persons tilling the soil as small landowners or as laborers
This land was farmed by peasants for centuries.
also : a member of a similar class elsewhere
2
: a usually uneducated person of low social status
They treated us like a bunch of peasants.

Examples of peasant in a Sentence

They treated us like a bunch of peasants.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In their narratives, the enemies of the peasants extended beyond locusts, fires, and snow. — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 8 Aug. 2025 Putting aside the question of why Trump thinks anyone would give their kid thirty dolls, the point was clear enough: Who are the peasants to complain about the high cost of dolls, or cake for that matter, when the king has wisely decided to upend the global economy on their behalf? — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 1 May 2025 There are no coffins or headstones in the Catacombs, with the bones of the princes and kings mixed with peasants and non-nobility. — Dave Brooks, Billboard, 5 June 2025 In those villages, Sesa said, Prevost ate whatever was offered to him, including the peasant diet consisting of potatoes, cheese and sweet corn. — Franklin Briceno, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for peasant

Word History

Etymology

Middle English paissaunt, from Anglo-French paisant, pesaunt, from pais, paiis country, from Late Latin pagensis inhabitant of a district, from Latin pagus district; akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of peasant was in the 15th century

Rhymes for peasant

See All Rhymes for peasant

Browse Nearby Words

Peary Land
peasant
peasant blue
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Cite this Entry

“Peasant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peasant. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.

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Kids Definition

peasant

noun
peas·​ant ˈpez-ᵊnt How to pronounce peasant (audio)
1
: a European small farmer or farm laborer
2
: a member of a similar agricultural class elsewhere

More from Merriam-Webster on peasant

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for peasant

Nglish: Translation of peasant for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peasant

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