aristocratic

adjective

aris·​to·​crat·​ic ə-ˌri-stə-ˈkra-tik 

(ˌ)a-ˌri-stə-, 

ˌa-rə-stə-

1

: belonging to, having the qualities of, or favoring aristocracy

an aristocratic family

aristocratic titles

2

a

: socially exclusive

an aristocratic neighborhood

b

: snobbish

3

: notably superior or excellent

In season she does an aristocratic lobster and asparagus salad with curry oil.

—R. W. Apple, Jr.

aristocratically

ə-ˌri-stə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

(ˌ)a-ˌri-stə-, 

ˌa-rə-stə-

adverb

Synonyms of aristocratic

• arrogant
• snobbish
• elitist
• snooty
• snobby
• ritzy
• snotty

Examples of aristocratic in a Sentence

the restaurant's cuisine is truly superb, but the maître d's aristocratic demeanor is a bit much

an impoverished dowager who never lets people forget about her aristocratic origins

Recent Examples on the Web

And yet these engravings are informed by the artist’s signature subversive irony, incorporating French aristocratic styles to elevate Haitians bent on destroying French colonial power. — Elisa Turner, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026

Luchino Visconti‘s lush, aristocratic worlds have seen a major revival at repertory movie houses over the past year. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2026

Taylor, who reportedly bought his aristocratic title on the internet, was jailed for three years for selling a fake painting by the British artist Lowry through auction house Bonhams. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026

Similarly, after the traumas of the Civil War and Reconstruction, some Southern writers emphasized aberrant behavior to undercut the aristocratic whitewash of gentility and custom. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French aristocratique, from Medieval Latin aristocraticus, from Greek aristokratikos, from aristokratia

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aristocratic

• anti-aristocratic

Rhymes for aristocratic

• adiabatic
• asymptomatic
• axiomatic
• diagrammatic
• diaphragmatic
• electrostatic
• endolymphatic
• epigrammatic
• homeostatic
• idiomatic
• magnetostatic
• melodramatic