Uradel

Uradel (German:, German: "ancient nobility"; adjective uradelig or uradlig) is a genealogical term introduced in late 18th-century Germany to distinguish those families whose noble rank can be traced to the 14th century or earlier. The word stands opposed to Briefadel, a term used for titles of nobility created in the early modern period or modern history by letters patent. Since the earliest known such letters were issued in the 14th century, those knightly families in northern European nobility whose noble rank predates these are designated Uradel.

Uradel and Briefadel families may belong to any noble rank, including adlig (untitled nobility), freiherrlich (baronial), gräflich (comital), fürstlich (princely), and herzoglich (ducal).

The term Hochadel (High Nobility) refers specifically to the sovereign and mediatised princely and ducal houses of the Holy Roman Empire, rather than to all families bearing princely or ducal titles.