fourth estate

noun (often initial capital letters)

the journalistic profession or its members; the press.
a group other than the usual powers, as the three estates of France, that wields influence in the politics of a country.

Origin of fourth estate

First recorded in 1830–40

Words nearby fourth estate

fourth class, fourth commandment, fourth cranial nerve, fourth dimension, fourth disease, fourth estate, fourth heart sound, fourth international, fourth of july, fourth position, fourth republic

Words related to fourth estate

journalism, press

Example sentences from the Web for fourth estate

British Dictionary definitions for fourth estate

fourth estate

noun

(sometimes capitals) journalists or their profession; the press See estate (def. 4)