estate
Pluralestates
Pluralestates
Formsestates, estating, estated
- 1Everything a person owns and owes, especially after they die.
Like a box holding all that a person owned and owed, opened up after they are gone.
When her grandfather died, his estate was divided among the children.
After he died, his whole estate went to his two daughters.
Similarproperty, assets, fortune, inheritance
- 2A large piece of land owned by one person or family, often with a big house.
Like one giant backyard so big it has its own woods and fields.
They bought a huge estate in the countryside with stables and gardens.
The family has owned this estate for over two hundred years.
- 3
- 4A group of homes built together in one area, sometimes said in a negative way about poorer neighborhoods.
Like a big neighborhood of homes built all at once, with its own reputation.
She grew up on the estate near the river.
Kids from the estate played football in the car park.
UsageSay on the estate: kids on the estate.
Similardevelopment, project, scheme
Note
- 5One of the main social classes in old societies that had its own political rights.
Like dividing a whole country into a few big groups, each with its own rules.
In old France, the clergy formed the first estate of the realm.
The three estates of feudal lords, clergy and royal officers met in separate chambers, and exercised an advisory role.
2011, Norman Davies, Vanished KingdomsHere, estates means the main classes of society, each with its own political role.UsageSay the first estate or the third estate.
Note
Less common meanings
- 6Used to describe jewelry or items that someone owned before, not bought new.
Like buying a used bike instead of one straight from the store.
She bought an estate ring at a much lower price than a new one.
The shop sells estate watches alongside brand-new ones.
Similarsecondhand, pre-owned, vintage
Oppositenew
Note
- 7A car with a long body and a large storage area behind the back seats, reached through a rear door.
Like a normal car stretched out at the back to fit much more stuff.
We packed all the camping gear into the back of the estate.
Their new estate has plenty of room for the dogs.
Similarwagon
Note
- 8All the buildings, land, computers, or other things an organization owns or runs, thought of as one whole.
Like all the land and buildings one big organization keeps, listed together.
The government plans to sell off part of its estate.
Old offices in the public estate need expensive repairs.
- 9Someone's wealth and good fortune, and how well their life is going.
Note
- 10The general state or condition of a person or thing.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, estate means condition in life, so low estate means poor or humble.But when I came to mans eſtate, With hey ho, [the winde and the raine], Gainſt Knaues and Theeues men ſhut their gate.
c. 1601, William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”Note
- 11A person's rank or position in society.
God hath imprinted his authority in several parts, upon several estates of men.
1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living.Here, estates means ranks or positions that people hold in society.Note
- 12A nobleman or noblewoman of high rank.
Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, estates means people of high rank, like nobles.Note
- 13The whole country or its government considered as one body.
Note
- 14To give someone land, property, or another possession or benefit.
Note
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It came from Old French and Anglo-Norman estat, which came from Latin status.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- Estate came from Old French and Anglo-Norman estat. en.wiktionary.org
- Old French and Anglo-Norman estat came from Latin status. en.wiktionary.org