Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. [1]

The meaning of COUNTESS is the wife or widow of an earl or count.

COUNTESS definition: 1. a woman of high social rank, or the wife of a count or earl: 2. a woman of high social rank, or…. Learn more.

A woman holding the title of count or earl. 2. a. The wife or widow of a count in various European countries. b. The wife or widow of an earl in Great Britain. 3. Used as a title for such a …

Definition of countess noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Jun 8, 2025 · countess (plural countesses) The wife of a count or earl. A woman holding the rank of count or earl in her own right; a female holder of an earldom.

May 20, 2025 · Find out what it means to be a count or countess and how people earn the title.

A countess is a noblewoman, equal in status to an earl or a count. Countesses either inherit the title when they're born or gain it by marrying a noble. If a woman marries the Earl of Sandwich, …

Sep 21, 2025 · A countess is the female equivalent of a count or an earl in nobility, holding a rank significant within the structured hierarchy of aristocratic titles. The term may refer to the wife of …

A countess is a woman who has the same rank as a count or earl, or who is married to a count or earl. The prince gallantly ordered the countess to abandon the castle.