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

Example Sentences

a member of the aristocracy

at one time in China only the aristocracy could own land

Recent Examples on the Web

In schools, a vernacular curriculum for the emergent middle and commercial classes had started to compete with the classical curriculum, the birthright of the aristocracy. —Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2023

In this autobiography, the Queen's cousin details her life in the Scottish aristocracy. —Lauren Said-moorhouse, CNN, 10 Jan. 2023

Because of this, many members of the aristocracy blamed Rasputin for the tsar’s decaying power. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022

And Lord Peter Wimsey—scion of the aristocracy; military hero; buoyant connoisseur of wine, rare books, piano music, and women—is on the hunt for his next beguiling case. —Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2023

Leopold grew up making glass eyes and costume jewelry, as well as glass orchids for the aristocracy. —Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2016

Both are really about the demise of an old world—Titanic using the sinking of that mighty boat as a metaphor for Victorian aristocracy's decline, Dielman finding a microcosm for a burgeoning feminist revolution in one woman's slow-motion awakening. —A.a. Dowd, Chron, 9 Feb. 2023

The first follows Daphne Bridgerton, whose straightforward personality has deemed her unsuitable for the aristocracy's love games. —Town & Country, 6 Feb. 2023

As a protégé of Diana Vreeland and the epitome of sartorial aristocracy, Talley brought his inimitable love for grandeur as an editor-at-large to the pages of Vogue for four decades. —Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 24 Jan. 2023

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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

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