aristocracy

ar·is·toc·ra·cy

noun \ˌa-rə-ˈstä-krə-sē, ˌer-ə-\

plural ar·is·toc·ra·cies

Definition of ARISTOCRACY

1

: government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class

2

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 government

3

: a governing body or upper class usually made up of a hereditary nobility

4

: the aggregate of those believed to be superior

Examples of ARISTOCRACY

1. a member of the aristocracy
2. <at one time in China only the aristocracy could own land>

Origin of ARISTOCRACY

Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French aristocratie, from Late Latin aristocratia, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos best + -kratia -cracy

First Known Use: 1561

Related to ARISTOCRACY

Synonyms: elite, gentility, gentlefolk (also gentlefolks), gentry, nobility, patriciate, quality, upper class, upper crust

Antonyms: proletarians, proletariat

Related Words: A-list, beau monde, beautiful people, café society, Four Hundred (or 400), glitterati, haut monde (also haute monde), jet set, society; carriage trade, plutocracy

Near Antonyms: commoners, (the) crowd, (the) masses, peasantry, peonage, (the) people, plebeians, plebs, (the) populace, (the) public, rank and file; bourgeoisie, middle class, working class; dregs, (the) herd, (the) mob, rabble, rabblement, riffraff, scum, trash

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with ARISTOCRACY

gerontocracy, gynecocracy, meritocracy, punditocracy, pure democracy, thalassocracy