peasant Definition
- 1a poor farmer of low social status who owns or rents a small piece of land for cultivation (chiefly in historical use or with reference to subsistence farming in poorer countries)
- 2a person who is crude or uncultured in manner or behavior
Using peasant: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "peasant" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The peasants worked hard on the fields every day.
Example
She was born into a family of peasants.
Example
The village was inhabited by peasants and artisans.
Example
The king had little regard for the lives of his peasant subjects.
peasant Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for peasant
- farmer
- agriculturist
- rustic
- countryman
- peasant farmer
Antonyms for peasant
Idioms Using peasant
someone who has a simple and unpretentious nature, despite their social status or education
Example
Despite his wealth and education, he remained a peasant at heart, preferring simple pleasures like gardening and reading.
a mindset characterized by a lack of ambition or aspiration, often associated with people from rural or working-class backgrounds
Example
Some people accuse him of having a peasant mentality, but he insists that he's just content with what he has.
Example
The peasant revolt was brutally suppressed by the king's army.
Phrases with peasant
a loose-fitting blouse with puffed sleeves and often a square neckline, typically made of cotton or linen and decorated with embroidery or lace
Example
She wore a peasant blouse with jeans and sandals.
a long, full skirt that is gathered at the waist and often made of cotton or other lightweight fabric, typically decorated with embroidery or other embellishments
Example
She paired her peasant skirt with a simple white t-shirt.
simple, hearty, and filling food that is typically associated with rural or working-class people
Example
The restaurant specializes in peasant food like stews, soups, and casseroles.
Origins of peasant
from Old French 'paisant', from pais, meaning 'country, region'
Summary: peasant in Brief
The term 'peasant' [ˈpɛz(ə)nt] refers to a farmer of low social status who owns or rents a small piece of land for cultivation, or a person who is crude or uncultured in manner or behavior. It spans contexts from historical subsistence farming to modern-day rural life, exemplified by 'The peasants worked hard on the fields every day.' 'Peasant' extends into phrases like 'peasant food,' and idioms like 'a peasant at heart,' denoting a simple and unpretentious nature.
