Peasant vs farmer

[Nguyendavis]

I can not define the differences between "peasant" and "farmer". Could anyone help me?
Thanks a lot!

[Mister Micawber]

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Peasant: a member of a class of persons, as in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social rank.

Farmer: a person who farms; person who operates a farm or cultivates land.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Diverhank]

In some cases, peasant and farmer mean the same thing - as someone who is involved in farming. In modern usage, however, peasant has a negative connotation. It is mostly used to describe a very poor agricultural laborer. It is also used to describe a class of people (poor farmers).

There is a term - gentleman farmer that describes a man of wealthy means who farms chiefly for pleasure rather than income. In this case, you can't really use the term gentleman peasant at all.

[VSPrasad]

A peasant is a social position - much like a "serf" in a feudal system - they are servants who are bound to their land. They serve under a Lord, and must farm the land in order to fulfil their duty.

A farmer is not a social position, it is a profession. A farmer is a free person, who owns a real farm.

peasant:

A person who lives in the country and works on the land, esp. as a smallholder or a labourer.

In specific contexts the term may be variously defined. Although modern sociologists agree that a peasant works the land, the more wealthy peasants may also be landowners, rentiers, hirers of labour, etc., and in these capacities share interests with completely different social groups.

An agricultural worker of low status. The word is applied chiefly to agricultural workers in Asia, Europe, and South America, who generally adhere to traditional agricultural practices and have little social mobility or freedom.

farmer:

One who cultivates a farm, whether as tenant or owner; one who ‘farms’ land, or makes agriculture his occupation.

One who has paid for the right to collect and retain certain revenues or profits.