Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

aristocracy

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

aristocracy

Main Entry:: ar·is·toc·ra·cy
Pronunciation:: \ˌa-rə-ˈstä-krə-sē, ˌer-ə-\
Function:: noun
Inflected Form(s):: plural ar·is·toc·ra·cies
Etymology:: Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French aristocratie, from Late Latin aristocratia, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos best + -kratia -cracy
Date:: 1561

1: government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class2 a: a government in which power is vested in a minority consisting of those believed to be best qualified b: a state with such a government3: a governing body or upper class usually made up of a hereditary nobility4: the aggregate of those believed to be superior

Learn more about "aristocracy" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "aristocracy" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols