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
Marilyn Chase
c
singular or plural in construction
: the socially superior part of society
… how the French-speaking elite … was changing …—Economist
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
Robert Wernick2
: a typewriter type providing 12 characters to the linear inch
: 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
Garry Kasparov 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
Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
And they were discredited not by elites; they were discredited by the whole country.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
But in elite-level sport, there is also a danger in dreading the consequences of making a mistake.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elite
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Noun
Mamdani’s sudden rise to prominence after his stunning upset victory over Cuomo in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, and his self-identification as a democratic socialist, has caused consternation among some of the city’s business elite.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
And they were discredited not by elites; they were discredited by the whole country.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Head to Amazon for even more elite under-$25 deals worth adding to your wardrobe this winter.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
But in elite-level sport, there is also a danger in dreading the consequences of making a mistake.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elite
Cite this Entry
“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elite. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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