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aristocracy

2 ENTRIES FOUND:

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

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

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