The term "the three estates" refers to the three main social classes that existed in medieval Europe: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners or the bourgeoisie. There are a few synonyms used to refer to the same, such as "the three orders," "the three classes," or "the three spheres." Another term that mirrors the same meaning is "the tripartite society," which is used to describe societies that have been divided into three social classes. In some instances, "the three estates" can be interchangeable or used in conjunction with "the four estates," with the additional estate being the press or the media as it has significant influence over public opinion and politics.