blueblood
Person of aristocracy
A blueblood is a person of aristocratic or socially prominent lineage.
The term comes from the visible blue veins beneath pale skin—a mark of nobility who didn't labor outdoors.
Now it describes anyone from old money or elite social standing: The charity gala attracted bluebloods from across the country.
As an adjective, blueblood or blue-blooded suggests privileged background: a blueblood family, blue-blooded snobbery.
Long-established family fortune
- upper classWealthiest societal stratum
- high societyThe social elite
- socialiteProminent figure in fashionable circles
- debutanteFormally introduced young woman
genteel · well-born · exclusive · prestigious · privileged · landed gentry · aristocrat · establishment
Titled ruling class
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
- royaltyPayment for usage rights
- dukeHighest-ranking nobleman
- duchessWoman of ducal rank
countess · baron · viscount · marquess · earl · dame · lord · lady
Record of descent
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- genealogyStudy of family descent
descent · forebears · progenitors · birthright · inheritance · family tree · succession · heritage
old money
Long-established family fortune
- upper classWealthiest societal stratum
- high societyThe social elite
- socialiteProminent figure in fashionable circles
debutante · genteel · well-born · exclusive · prestigious · privileged · landed gentry · aristocrat · establishment · patrician
nobility
Titled ruling class
duchess · countess · baron · viscount · marquess · earl · dame · lord · lady · monarch
pedigree
Record of descent
genealogy · descent · forebears · progenitors · birthright · inheritance · family tree · succession · heritage · legacy
- high societygossip, socialites, socialite, aristocrats, aristocrat
- nobilityking, queen, prince, princess, duke
- upper classaristocrat, nobles, baron, baroness, baronet
- socialitessocialite, debutante, heiress, jet setter, jet-setter
- etiquettemanners, politeness, etiquette, table manners, courtesy
- snobssnob, elitist, snoot, prig, highbrow
bluebloodcommoner
Non-noble person
peasant · plebeian · lowborn · baseborn · common folk
bluebloodpauper
Person in extreme poverty
beggar · have-not · poor person · indigent · down-and-outer