the fourth estate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This view hinges on a low opinion of democracy and the fourth estate that has, to some extent, been borne out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

While the news media is sometimes referred to as the fourth estate, alongside the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, few think of stand-up comedy as a pillar of democracy.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

We are long overdue for a reintroduction of the guidelines that offered some degree of trust in the fourth estate.

From Salon • Nov. 14, 2024

With it, however, comes a more uncertain question of what our “mainstream media” really will look like going forward and how the fourth estate will challenge those in power.

From Slate • Aug. 27, 2024

So much for capital, industry and the fourth estate.

From Bransford of Rainbow Range Originally Published under the title of Bransford in Arcadia, or, The Little Eohippus by Rhodes, Eugene Manlove