Peasant

/ˈpɛz.ənt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A small agricultural worker or farmer, especially in historical contexts, who is often of lower social status.

The peasant tended to his crops from dawn until dusk, hoping for a good harvest.

A member of a traditional class of farmers, laborers, and herdsmen with low social status.

In medieval times, a peasant was bound to the land they worked, with little hope for upward mobility.

A person of low social status; one who is regarded as unrefined or unsophisticated.

Despite his wealth, he was often treated like a peasant by the elite of the city.

From Old French 'paisant', from 'pais', meaning 'country' or 'land'.

peasant class

The social class of rural workers who are typically poor and work the land.

peasant revolt

An uprising by peasants against their rulers, often due to oppression or heavy taxation.

serf

A laborer who is bound to work on a lord's estate.

tenant

A person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord.

A person who is viewed as unsophisticated or lacking in social grace.

I felt like a peasant at the fancy dinner party.

Used humorously to describe someone with a taste for simple, rustic living.

She embraced her inner peasant while camping in the wild.