Meaning & use
viscount
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Meanings
nouncountable
A British nobleman whose rank sits above a baron and below an earl or count.
Grammar: Countable title noun; use 'a viscount' for one person and 'viscounts' for several, and capitalize it before a name or place.
Patterns
- a viscount
- the Viscount of + place
- Viscount + family name
Her grandfather was made a viscount after a long career in public service.
The estate passed to his eldest son, who became the fifth viscount.
Viscount Ashby opened the new village hall himself.
nouncountable
A nobleman of a similar middle rank in some European countries.
Grammar: Used for foreign titles too; the local word is often translated as 'viscount' in English news reports.
Patterns
- a viscount
- the viscount of + place
The French viscount owned vineyards across the valley.
In the story, a young viscount falls in love with a servant.
Word forms
| plural | viscounts |
|---|
Common combinations
- the young viscount
- The young viscount had just inherited the family title.
- be made a viscount
- He was made a viscount in the New Year honours list.
- Viscount + place name
- Viscount Melbourne gave the town its first public library.
- a viscount and his wife
- A viscount and his wife were seated at the head of the table.
Synonyms and how they differ
- baron
- A baron is the lowest rank of the British peerage, so it sits just below a viscount.
- earl
- An earl ranks higher than a viscount; in continental Europe the matching title is usually 'count'.
- nobleman
- This is the general word for anyone of high aristocratic rank, not a specific title.
Opposites
Word family
- viscountess noun
- A woman holding the rank of viscount, or the wife of a viscount.
- viscountcy noun
- The rank or position of a viscount.
- peer noun
- A member of the nobility with the right to sit in the House of Lords.
Commonly confused: viscount or vicomte? viscount or count?
viscount vs vicomte
This is the French word for the same rank; use 'viscount' when writing in English.
viscount vs count
A count is a higher rank, roughly equal to a British earl, not to a viscount.
Practice
Which sentence uses the title correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Viscount' is the personal title itself, so it fits after 'the title of'. 'Viscountess' is the female form or the wife's title, 'viscountcy' names the rank rather than the person, and 'peerage' refers to the whole group of peers.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “viscount”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.