The peerage in the United Kingdom is a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various noble ranks, and forming 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 latter case but not the former). British peerage title holders are termed peers of the Realm. The peerage's fundamental roles are ones of government, peers being eligible (although formerly entitled) to a seat in the House of Lords, and of meritocracy, the receiving of any peerage being the highest of British honours (with the receiving of a more traditional hereditary peerage naturally holding more weight than that of a more modern, and less highly regarded, life peerage). Peerages are created by the British monarch, like all Crown honours, being affirmed by letters patent affix
El término peerage puede usarse tanto colectivamente para referirse a todo el cuerpo de nobles (o una subdivisión de ellos), y individualmente para referirse a un título específico (estilo de lengua inglesa moderna utilizando un capital inicial en el último caso pero no el primero). Los titulares de títulos de peerage británicos son llamados pares del reino. Los roles fundamentales de la peerage son los del gobierno, los pares siendo elegibles (aunque anteriormente titulados) a un asiento en la Casa de los Lords, y de meritocracia, la recepción de cualquier peerage siendo el más alto de los honores británicos (con la recepción de un peerage más tradicional que naturalmente posee más peso que el de una vida de peerage más moderna, menos considerada).