Crossword Genius

Nobleman - unproductive, so we hear (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

baron

'nobleman' is the definition.
(baron is a kind of nobleman)

'unproductive so we hear' is the wordplay.
'unproductive' becomes 'barren' (synonyms).
'so we hear' shows a homophone (sound like).
'barren' is a homophone of 'BARON'.

(Other definitions for baron that I've seen before include "British peer of the lowest rank" , "Title of rank" , "Nobleman providing a portion of beef" , "powerful man owning lots of dailies?" , "Lowest rank of British peerage" .)

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