aristocracy
noun
ˌer-ə- \
Definition of aristocracy
1 : government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class
2a : a government in which power is vested (see vest entry 2 sense 1a) 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 a member of the British aristocracy
4 : a class or group of people believed to be superior (as in rank, wealth, or intellect) an intellectual aristocracy
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms & Antonyms for aristocracy
Synonyms
elite, gentility, gentlefolk (also gentlefolks), gentry, nobility, upper class, upper crust
Antonyms
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of aristocracy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her sister-in-law and frenemy in court, Grand Duchess Pavlovna, aka Miechen, epitomizes the aristocracy and provides the perfect foil for Maria – until her son Nicholas, a weak and eventually ineffective tsar, weds the German princess Alix of Hesse. — Mary Cadden, USA TODAY, "Empress Maria heads juicy Russian cast in historical novel about the Romanovs," 12 July 2018 Liberals, who decry entrenched privilege at home, seem strangely OK with a British aristocracy that conveys titles and estates through bloodlines. — Heather Souvaine Horn, The New Republic, "Donald Trump, Meghan Markle, and America’s enduring obsession with the British royals," 12 July 2018 Set among the backdrop of the family’s Edwardian English country home, the show’s 52 episodes revealed the nuances of an era in which the aristocracy defined life in England. — Amanda Svachula, New York Times, "‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Is on the Way," 13 July 2018 For the aristocracy in particular, upholding this old-school fashion remains part of family tradition. — Raisa Bruner, Time, "Here's Why Prince George Always Wears Shorts," 23 Apr. 2018 Baronet is a rank in the British aristocracy, albeit below dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "Everything We Know About Jack Brooksbank's Family Ahead of the Royal Wedding," 12 June 2018 They are surrounded by equally horrifying members of the aristocracy—most notably, Princess Margaret (Harriet Walker), who in one episode appears as the guest of honor at a fancy dinner party. — Joy Press, HWD, "Patrick Melrose: How Benedict Cumberbatch Climbed Inside His Favorite Antihero," 5 June 2018 During my childhood, the spectacle of an exclusively white monarchy and aristocracy helped reinforce the notion that Britishness was white. — Afua Hirsch, Time, "What Meghan Markle Means to the World," 17 May 2018 De Tocqueville describes lawyers as occupying a place in American society similar to the aristocracies of Europe. — Henry Farrell, Washington Post, "Most lawyers don’t understand cryptography. So why do they dominate tech policy debates?," 15 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aristocracy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for aristocracy
aristocracy
noun
English Language Learners Definition of aristocracy
: the highest social class in some countries : the people who have special titles (such as duke and duchess ), who typically own land, and who traditionally have more money and power than the other people in a society
See the full definition for aristocracy in the English Language Learners Dictionary
aristocracy
noun
\
Kids Definition of aristocracy
1 : a government that is run by a small class of people
2 : an upper class that is usually based on birth and is richer and more powerful than the rest of a society
3 : people thought of as being better than the rest of the community
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on aristocracy
What made you want to look up aristocracy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Name that Food Quiz
-
- Name these cookies!
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share aristocracy
Resources for aristocracy