A count and countess are historical titles of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. The title of count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The word countess is the feminine form of count. In England, after the 1066 conquest by the Normans, the European term "count" was the normal translation used for the English title of "earl", and the wives of earls are still referred to as countesses.

Count and countess titles were often conferred by the monarch as an honorific title for special services rendered, without a feudal estate (countship, county) being attached, so it was merely a title, with or without a domain name attached to it. In some countries, all children in comital families elevated before a certain date were called count/countess, while in families elevated after that date, only the head of the family was called count, and the rest have a status similar to barons and were called by the equivalent of "Mr/Ms/Mrs".

It is worth noting that there are websites that offer the opportunity to purchase a count or countess title, but these titles are not recognized by any government and have no legal standing.