peasantry

/ˈpɛzəntri/
noun
  1. The social class of poor farmers or farm laborers, especially in past times or in less developed countries.
    • In medieval Europe, the peasantry made up the majority of the population.
    • The peasantry worked the land from sunrise to sunset.
    • The government introduced reforms to improve the lives of the peasantry.
  2. People regarded as unsophisticated or uneducated, often used in a condescending way.
    • He spoke of the peasantry as if they were incapable of understanding modern technology.
    • The novel portrays the peasantry with sympathy and respect.
    • The wealthy tourists looked down on the local peasantry.
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