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.
Mansour persevered, turning out bright canvases of olive groves and peasants that brought to mind his former home and were well received. — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026 Andrew Garfield is not just a rebellious peasant in his upcoming action period drama. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 Just last week, Minnesota strolled into San Francisco, delivered a clinical beatdown and strutted off the floor like brash royalty, reminding the peasants of their place. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026 Just as with the Romans, we peasants are treated to a spectacle to distract us from the reality of the abject impoverishment of the social safety net and the abandonment of the poor. — Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Peasant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peasant. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peasant

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