viscount

1 of 2

noun (1)

vis·​count ˈvī-ˌkau̇nt How to pronounce viscount (audio)
Synonyms of viscountnext
: a member of the peerage in Great Britain ranking below an earl and above a baron
viscountcy
ˈvī-ˌkau̇n(t)-sē How to pronounce viscount (audio)
noun
viscounty
ˈvī-ˌkau̇n-tē How to pronounce viscount (audio)
noun

viscounty

2 of 2

noun (2)

vis·​county -tē How to pronounce viscounty (audio)
1
: the territory or jurisdiction of a viscount
2
: viscountcy

Examples of viscount in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
But will the second son of the late viscount actually settle down? — Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026 For more than 1,000 years, its kings and queens have presided atop a pyramid of lords, earls, viscounts, and other layers of nobility. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2026 The viscount died due to an allergic reaction from a bee sting, which was featured in Anthony and Kate Sharma's love story. — Lia Beck, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 Under the law, the remaining earls, viscounts and dukes who inherited their seats in the chamber along with their aristocratic titles will leave Parliament for good when the current session concludes this spring. — Peter Weber, TheWeek, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for viscount

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English viscounte sheriff, viscount, from Anglo-French visquens, visconte, from Medieval Latin vicecomit-, vicecomes, from Late Latin vice- vice- + comit-, comes count — more at count

Noun (2)

viscount + -y

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of viscount was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

viscosity index
viscount
viscountcy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Viscount.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viscount. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

viscount

noun
vis·​count ˈvī-ˌkau̇nt How to pronounce viscount (audio)
: a British nobleman ranking below an earl and above a baron
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All