1. A major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country (especially in the United Kingdom) and formerly possessing distinct political rights
   "The three estates in medieval Europe were the clergy, nobility, and commoners"; "The three estates of the realm in medieval Europe were the clergy, nobility, and commoners";
   - estate of the realm [Brit], estate [Brit]

Type of: class, social class, socio-economic class, stratum

Part of: body politic, commonwealth, country, land, nation, res publica, state

Encyclopedia: The three estates