elite

1 of 3

noun

i-ˈlēt  ē-  ā- 

1

a

singular or plural in construction : the choice part : cream

the elite of the entertainment world

b

singular or plural in construction : the best of a class

superachievers who dominate the computer elite

—Marilyn Chase

c

singular or plural in construction : the socially superior part of society

how the French-speaking elite … was changing

—Economist

d

: a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence

members of the ruling elite

e

: a member of such an elite

—usually used in plural

the elites …, pursuing their studies in Europe

—Robert Wernick

2

: a typewriter type providing 12 characters to the linear inch

elite

2 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, serving, or being part of an elite

seeking to attain elite status

an elite group

an elite institution/school

often : superior in quality, rank, skill, etc.

an elite performer

an elite athlete

an athlete with elite skills

The elite chess players of today are of no school. They hail from all over the world …

—Garry Kasparov

élite, élitism

3 of 3

chiefly British spellings of elite, elitism

Synonyms

Noun

• A-list
• aristocracy
• best
• choice
• corps d'elite
• cream
• crème de la crème
• elect
• fat
• flower
• illuminati
• pick
• pink
• pride
• priesthood
• prime
• royalty
• upper crust

Examples of elite in a Sentence

Noun

the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools

the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Although an old elite controlled the state, much of the daily work was done by the young clerks who kept the city’s gun factories and insurance brokers and publishing houses in business. —Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024

His tweet surfaced a far-right conspiracy theory that elites in Europe and the U.S. are leveraging immigration to make white people into minorities in their countries. —Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French élite, from Old French eslite, from feminine of eslit, past participle of eslire to choose, from Latin eligere

First Known Use

Noun

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1808, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing elite

• non-elite
• anti-elite

Kids Definition

elite

noun

ā-ˈlēt  i- 

1

: the part or group having the highest quality or importance

2

: a small powerful group of people

elite adjective