Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

fourth estate

 - 3 dictionary results

fourth estate

 
Use fourth estate in a Sentence
–noun (often initial capital letters)
1. the journalistic profession or its members; the press.
2. a group other than the usual powers, as the three estates of France, that wields influence in the politics of a country.
Origin:
1830–40
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fourth estate
fourth estate  
n.  Journalists considered as a group; the public press.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

fourth estate 
"the press," 1837, first recorded in writings of Carlyle, though he said it was not original to him (perhaps in use from c.1823). For the other three, see estate. Earlier the term had been applied in various senses that did not stick, including "the mob" (1752).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see fourth estate on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way