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
Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as Virgin of Guadalupe, has a long history dating back to 1531, tied to four apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a peasant in Mexico.
—
Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
The Caipirinha is a drink of agricultural convenience, made with what grew abundantly around the peasants of central Brazil: lime, sugar, and cane distillate.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Except, apparently, brunch is only for the Housewives, with the peasants meant to mingle separately with hors d’oeuvre.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 26 May 2025
In it, Italian peasants Matteo and Natale discuss this same cosmic occurrence in the rustic Paduan dialect of the time.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for peasant
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Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
The Caipirinha is a drink of agricultural convenience, made with what grew abundantly around the peasants of central Brazil: lime, sugar, and cane distillate.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Except, apparently, brunch is only for the Housewives, with the peasants meant to mingle separately with hors d’oeuvre.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 26 May 2025
In it, Italian peasants Matteo and Natale discuss this same cosmic occurrence in the rustic Paduan dialect of the time.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for peasant
Cite this Entry
“Peasant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peasant. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
peasant
noun
peas·ant
ˈpez-ᵊnt 
1
: a European small farmer or farm laborer
2
: a member of a similar agricultural class elsewhere
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