life peer

1 of 2

noun (1)

: a British peer whose title is not hereditary
life peerage noun

life peerage

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the rank or dignity of a life peer
ten men who are to receive life peerages—T. P. Ronan

Examples of life peer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
In 1996, he was made a life peer for the Labour Party and created Baron Rogers of Riverside. — Jonny Hallam, CNN, 18 Dec. 2021 Some hereditary members will be converted to life peers under a last-minute compromise, extending the transition through spring 2026. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026 In 1958, the government introduced life peers — lords appointed by the government, rather than family lineage. — Lauren Frayer, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026 In 2023, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed him as foreign secretary, and he was also made a life peer and a member of the House of Lords. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025 He was awarded France’s Legion of Honor in 1986, knighted in 1991 and named a life peer, Baron Rogers of Riverside, five years later. — Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2021 In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II made Shackleton a life peer and gave her the title Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia. — Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 10 June 2024 Queen Elizabeth made the barrister a life peer in 2010, awarding her the title Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia, the Daily Mail reported. — Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life peer was in 1791

Rhymes for life peer

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Browse Nearby Words

life of Riley
life peer
life peerage
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Cite this Entry

“Life peer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life%20peer. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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