A member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight; SYN. bart.
British order of chivalry below the rank of baron, but above that of knight, created 1611 by James I to finance the settlement of Ulster. It is a hereditary honor, although women cannot succeed to a baronetcy. A baronet does not have a seat in the House of Lords but is entitled to the style Sir before his name. The sale of baronetcies was made illegal 1937.