aristocracy

aristocracy

noun

Definition of ARISTOCRACY

1

the highest class in a society <at one time in China only the aristocracy could own land>

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

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

Antonyms proletarians, proletariat

2

individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class <membership in the society is reserved for the literary world's aristocracy>

Synonyms 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

Related Words establishment, gentry, nobility, quality, society, top, top drawer, upper class; caviar (also caviare); who's who

Near Antonyms commoners, herd, hoi polloi, masses, millions, mob, multitude, rank and file, unwashed