Meanings
comparative ignobler · superlative ignoblest
- Not noble; plebeian; common.
I was not ignoble of descent.
c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i] - Not honorable; base.
far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife
1750 June 12 (date written; published 1751), T[homas] Gray, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”, in Designs by Mr. R[ichard] Bentley, for Six Poems by Mr. T. Gray, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], published 1753, →OCLC1 more example
A base, ignoble mind, / That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]Synonyms: degenerate, mean, base, vile, low-minded, reproachful, shameful, disgraceful
- chemistryOf an element, dangerously reactive.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveNot honorable; base.
antonym(s) of “common”
antonym(s) of “not honorable”
More synonyms by meaning
adjectivecompletely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinignōbilis
- Middle Frenchignoble
- Englishignoble
Borrowed from Middle French ignoble, from Latin ignōbilis, from in- (“not”) + gnōbilis, later nōbilis (“noble”).
More words from Middle French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἀγεννής, ἀγεννής
- ἀγεννής (agennḗs)not noble; plebeian; common
- ἀγεννής (agennḗs)not honorable
Bulgarian неблагороден, простонароден
- неблагороден (neblagoroden)not noble; plebeian; common
- простонароден (prostonaroden)not noble; plebeian; common
- низък (nizăk)not honorable
- долен (dolen)not honorable
Catalan innoble
- innoblenot noble; plebeian; common
Czech neurozený, hanebný
- neurozenýnot noble; plebeian; common
- hanebnýnot honorable
- nízkýnot honorable
- pokleslýnot honorable
Dutch oneervol
- oneervolnot honorable
Esperanto malnobla
- malnoblanot honorable
Finnish alhaissyntyinen, halpamainen
- alhaissyntyinennot noble; plebeian; common
- halpamainennot honorable
- alhainennot honorable
- matalamielinennot honorable
French ignoble, indigne
- ignoblenot noble; plebeian; common
- indignenot noble; plebeian; common
- ignoblenot honorable
Greek αγενής, πρόστυχος
- αγενής (agenís)not noble; plebeian; common
- πρόστυχος (próstychos)not honorable
- άτιμος (átimos)not honorable
Hindi अनार्य, अकुलीन
- अनार्य (anārya)not noble; plebeian; common
- अकुलीन (akulīn)not noble; plebeian; common
- सर्वसाधारण (sarvasādhāraṇ)not noble; plebeian; common
- अशिष्ट (aśiṣṭ)not noble; plebeian; common
- अप्रतिष्ठित (apratiṣṭhit)not honorable
- नीच (nīc)not honorable
- अनार्य (anārya)not honorable
Irish anuasal, tútach
- anuasalnot noble; plebeian; common
- tútachnot honorable
Italian ignobile
- ignobilenot noble; plebeian; common
Japanese 平凡な, 庶民の
- 平凡な (heibon na)not noble; plebeian; common
- 庶民の (shomin no)not noble; plebeian; common
- 卑しい (iyashii)not honorable
- 汚い (kitanai)not honorable
- 醜い (minikui)not honorable
Latin ignobilis
- ignobilisnot noble; plebeian; common
Polish niecny
- niecnynot honorable
Portuguese ignóbil
- ignóbilnot noble; plebeian; common
Russian простонародный, посты́дный
- простонародный (prostonarodnyj)not noble; plebeian; common
- посты́дный (postýdnyj)not honorable
- ни́зкий (nízkij)not honorable
Spanish innoble, innoble
- innoblenot noble; plebeian; common
- innoblenot honorable
Swedish simpel, tarvlig
- simpelnot honorable
- tarvlignot honorable
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with ignoble
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
ignoble. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignoble
“ignoble.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignoble. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ignoble,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignoble.
Source: ignoble on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.