Meaning & Definition
noun
A large area of land, often with a grand house, typically associated with agriculture or large-scale property ownership.
The estate featured sprawling gardens and a beautiful mansion.
The total assets and liabilities left by a deceased person.
The lawyer was responsible for settling the deceased's estate.
A social class or order, especially in historical contexts (e.g., the estates of the realm).
The estate system divided society into the nobility, clergy, and common people.
Etymology
Middle English, from Old French 'estat', from Latin 'status', meaning 'condition, state'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
real estate:
Property consisting of land or buildings.
estate sale:
A sale of goods from a person's estate, usually due to liquidation after death.
gentleman's estate:
A large estate typically associated with the upper class.
Slang Meanings
Fancy housing or high-end real estate.
That neighborhood is all about the estate life.
Refers to someone's belongings or finances posthumously.
His estate got tangled up in legal issues after he passed.