In Japan in particular, the term Kizoku and that of Kazoku were used for almost the same meaning during the Meiji period and later, to generally indicate a social status class (Koshaku (公爵), Koshaku (侯爵), Hakushaku (伯爵), Shishaku (子爵), and Danshaku (男爵)) that was differentiated from Kozoku (the Imperial family) on the upper side and from Shizoku (the warrior class) on the lower side.
特に日本の場合、貴族とは明治以降は華族とほぼ同義で、上は皇族と区別され、下は士族と区別されるある身分階層（公侯伯子男）を指すのが一般的である。