1. Plural of gentry; people of good social position, especially the class of landowners ranking below the nobility.
Usage: Often used historically to refer to the English landed gentry; Can refer to people of refined or genteel manners

Examples

• The gentries of the English countryside owned vast estates and wielded considerable political influence.
• During the Victorian era, the gentries maintained strict codes of conduct and social etiquette.
• The novel depicts the lives and rivalries of the local gentries in a small provincial town.
• Many gentries lost their fortunes during the economic upheaval of the 19th century.
• The gentries were expected to serve as magistrates and community leaders.