The gentry are the powerful members of society. In the United Kingdom, where there are still kings and queens and dukes and duchesses, the gentry are the people who rank just below the nobility.

Gentry can also refer to the important people in any field. The gentry of rock 'n' roll would include icons like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley. The gentry of Hollywood are the stars everyone recognizes, the faces you constantly see on magazine covers, starring in movies, and making TV appearances. The gentry of New York society are the people who make major donations to art museums and hospitals and are A-list invitees to all the big fundraisers and cultural events.

Definitions of gentry

n the most powerful members of a society

landed gentry, squirearchy
the gentry who own land (considered as a class)
Type of:
upper class, upper crust
the class occupying the highest position in the social hierarchy