Real Dictionary

peasant
A peasant is a poor person of low social status who works on the land; used of people who live in countries where farming is still a common way of life.

peasant in American English
any person of the class of small farmers or of farm laborers, as in Europe or Asia
adjective: of, pertaining to, or characteristic of peasants or their traditions, way of life, crafts, etc
noun: 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

peasant in British English
noun: a member of a class of low social status that depends on either cottage industry or agricultural labour as a means of subsistence