marquess

noun

mar·​quess ˈmär-kwəs How to pronounce marquess (audio)
variants or
ˈmär-kwəs How to pronounce marquess (audio)
mär-ˈkē
plural marquesses or marquises ˈmär-kwə-səz How to pronounce marquess (audio) or marquis mär-ˈkē(z) How to pronounce marquess (audio)
Synonyms of marquessnext
1
: a nobleman of hereditary rank in Europe and Japan
2
: a member of the British peerage ranking below a duke and above an earl
marquessate
ˈmär-kwə-sət How to pronounce marquess (audio)
noun
or marquisate
ˈmär-kwə-zət How to pronounce marquess (audio)
-sət

Examples of marquess in a Sentence

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.
Seat of the Cholmondeley family for centuries, the Norfolk pile has also become one of the nation’s most galvanizing stages for contemporary art, thanks to David Cholmondeley, the filmmaker seventh marquess of the line, and his wife, Rose. — Mitchell Owens, Architectural Digest, 2 Aug. 2024 An early Titian masterpiece — once looted by Napolean’s troops and a part of royal collections for centuries — caused a stir when it was stolen from the home of a British marquess in 1995. — Niha Masih, Washington Post, 4 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English marquis, markis, from Anglo-French marquys, markys, from marche march

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of marquess was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Marquess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marquess. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

marquess

noun
mar·​quess ˈmär-kwəs How to pronounce marquess (audio)
1
: a nobleman of hereditary rank in Europe and Japan
2
: a British nobleman ranking below a duke and above an earl
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