third estate
The 'third estate' was a term used primarily during the French Ancien Régime to describe the common people, distinct from the clergy and nobility.
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Definition
B2French History
(historical, academic)The group comprising peasants, artisans, and the bourgeoisie in France before and during the French Revolution.
Example
- The third estate played a crucial role in the events leading up to the French Revolution.
B2General History
(historical)The common people in any society, particularly in systems divided into distinct social classes.
Example
- In many medieval societies, the third estate had little political power.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "third estate":