nonnoble

Nonnoble is an English term used to describe a person who is not a member of the nobility. It is formed from the prefix non- plus noble, and functions as an adjective or noun in historical, genealogical, or descriptive writing. The term signals social status rather than individual character and is often employed to distinguish those outside the noble caste from nobles in discussions of hierarchy or privilege.

Usage has declined in modern official discourse. In contemporary contexts, terms such as commoner, layperson, or citizen are more common, and nonnoble is more likely to appear in historical analyses, scholarly catalogs, or works of fiction set in previous eras. The precise implications of being a nonnoble varied by region and period, but typical contrasts included rights regarding land, office, or taxation.

In medieval and early modern societies, nobles typically owned land, held titles, or enjoyed legal immunities, while nonnobles encompassed freemen, serfs, merchants, and professionals. The distinction could influence access to political participation, military command, or patronage, though the structure and rigidity of such divides differed across cultures.

See also: commoner, nobility, aristocracy, gentry, peasant, caste.