Peerages in the United Kingdom
The peerage is a legal system historically comprising hereditary titles in the United Kingdom (as elsewhere in Europe), comprising various noble ranks, and forms a constituent part of the British honours system.
The term peerage can be used both collectively to refer to the entire body of nobles (or a subdivision thereof), and individually to refer to a specific title (modern English language-style using an initial capital in the former case but not the latter). British peerage title holders are termed peers of the Realm.