peasant

/ˈpɛznt/

/ˈpɛzənt/

Other forms: peasants

If you enjoy reading tales set in the Middle Ages, you’ve probably encountered your fair share of knights, dragons, and peasants, or residents of the countryside.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, most members of the population were peasants who lived a meager existence, working farmland that was owned by wealthy noblemen. Peasant is still used sometimes today to describe a relatively poor person who works as a farm laborer. Peasant can also be used to mean “an unsophisticated and ill-mannered person,” so when using this word, be sure your intended meaning is clear.

Definitions of peasant

1. noun

   one of a (chiefly European) class of agricultural laborers
   types:

   fellah

   an agricultural laborer in Arab countries

   type of:

   agricultural laborer, agricultural labourer

   a person who tills the soil for a living
2. noun

   a country person
   synonyms: bucolic, provincial

   types:

   cottar, cotter

   a peasant farmer in the Scottish Highlands

   moujik, mujik, muzhik, muzjik

   a Russian peasant (especially prior to 1917)

   type of:

   rustic

   an unsophisticated country person
3. noun

   a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement
   synonyms: Goth, barbarian, boor, churl, heathen, tike, tyke

   type of:

   disagreeable person, unpleasant person

   a person who is not pleasant or agreeable