aristocracy

noun

ar·​is·​toc·​ra·​cy ˌa-rə-ˈstä-krə-sē 

ˌer-ə-

plural aristocracies

1

: government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class

2

a

: 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

Synonyms

• elite
• gentility
• gentlefolk
• gentlefolks
• gentry
• nobility
• patriciate
• quality
• upper class
• upper crust

Examples of aristocracy in a Sentence

a member of the aristocracy

at one time in China only the aristocracy could own land

Recent Examples on the Web

See treasures The elegant artifacts likely belonged to a high-ranking individual, possibly a member of the aristocracy, experts said. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025

The period drama, which Marsh also co-wrote and starred in, tackled the decline of British aristocracy in the early 1900s, as depicted in the lives of the affluent Bellamy family and their servants. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025

His only friends were the sons and some daughters of the old English aristocracy, who were all like this. —Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025

Its purple dye, now faded to a red tint, was associated with elite aristocracy in ancient times, the institute said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French aristocratie, from Late Latin aristocratia, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos best + -kratia -cracy

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aristocracy

• meritocracy
• autocracy
• bureaucracy
• democracy
• hypocrisy
• plutocracy
• theocracy

Kids Definition

aristocracy

noun

ar·​is·​toc·​ra·​cy ˌar-ə-ˈstäk-rə-sē 

plural aristocracies

1

: a government run by a small class of people

2

a

: an upper class that is usually based on birth and is richer and more powerful than the rest of society

b

: persons thought to be better than the rest of the community