Meaning & use
estates
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“estates” is a form of “estate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Large areas of land with a big house, often in the countryside and owned by one person or family.
Grammar: Plural of estate: the family owns two estates.
Patterns
- estates in a place
The duke owned several estates across the north of England.
Wine estates in the valley welcome visitors.
The old estates were split up and sold.
nounpluralBritish
Areas planned for a particular use, such as groups of houses or factories.
Grammar: Often with a modifier: housing estates, industrial estates.
Patterns
- housing estates
- industrial estates
New housing estates were built near the motorway.
Several industrial estates lie on the edge of town.
nounplurallegal
All the money and property a person leaves behind when they die.
Grammar: In law: the estates of the deceased.
Patterns
- settle estates
The lawyer manages the estates of several wealthy clients.
Taxes on large estates have changed this year.
Word forms
| singular | estate |
|---|
Common combinations
- housing estates
- Many housing estates were built after the war.
- country estates
- The painter visited several country estates.
- industrial estates
- Industrial estates provide space for small firms.
- manage estates
- He is paid to manage estates for absent owners.
- real estates
- This is not a standard phrase; use real estate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- properties
- It covers any buildings or land, large or small, while estates suggests large holdings.
- lands
- It sounds old and refers to territory owned rather than a planned development.
- holdings
- It means things owned, including money, not only land.
- manors
- It names historic country houses with land and suggests a feudal past.
Word family
- estate noun
- land or property owned by someone
- real estate noun
- land and buildings as property
- estate agent noun
- British term for a person who sells property
- estate car noun
- British term for a station wagon
Commonly confused: estates or states?
estates vs states
It refers to countries or regions of a country, or conditions, and differs in meaning from estates.
Practice
Which sentence uses estates to mean large areas of land owned by one family?
Choose one answer.
Vast estates in the hills means large landholdings. The others misuse the word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “estates”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.