Definition

1. Noun:
   • A major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of a country: Historically, especially in the United Kingdom and France, an "estate" refers to a distinct social class with specific political rights or representation.
   • Extensive landed property, especially in the countryside, retained by the owner for personal use: An "estate" is a large area of land, often with a large house, owned by one person or family.
   • All the money and property owned by a person, especially at the time of their death: In law, an "estate" comprises the entire collection of a person's assets and liabilities.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The clergy, the nobility, and the commoners were the three traditional estates of the realm.
  • They live on a sprawling country estate with stables and a private lake.
  • After his death, his entire estate was left to charity.

Advanced Usage

• "Fourth estate": A term, often used figuratively, for the press and news media, considered as a distinct social or political force.
  • Journalists, as part of the fourth estate, play a crucial role in holding power to account.
• "Estate planning": The process of arranging for the management and disposal of a person's estate during their life and after death.
  • It's wise to engage in estate planning to ensure your wishes are followed.

Variants and Related Words

• Real estate (noun): Property consisting of land and the buildings on it.
  • He made his fortune in real estate development.
• Personal estate (noun): (Also personal property) All possessions other than land and buildings.
  • Jewelry and cars are considered part of your personal estate.

Synonyms

• Property: Something owned; possessions or land.
• Holding(s): Land or property owned.
• Assets: Items of ownership that have value.

Related Phrases

• "To settle an estate": To complete the legal and financial processes of distributing a deceased person's assets.
  • The lawyer took a year to settle the complex estate.
• "Manorial estate": A historical term for the lands and jurisdiction of a lord of the manor.
  • The ruins of the manor house are all that remain of the old manorial estate.

Related Idioms

• "To come into one's estate": To inherit property or wealth, or to reach an age where one gains control of inherited property.
  • When she turned twenty-five, she finally came into her estate.

Noun

1. a major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country (especially in the United Kingdom) and formerly possessing distinct political rights
2. extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
   • the family owned a large estate on Long Island
3. everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities