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 of aristocracy

• nobility
• gentry

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

Once the preserve of European aristocracy, the Romanée-Conti is now sought out by multi-millionaires at auction. —Pin Yen Tan 9 Min Ago, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026

Quick bios have always played up Newsom’s close relationship (and business ties) with the heirs to the Getty oil fortune and links to San Francisco’s political aristocracy. —Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026

To paraphrase a member of the European aristocracy, even Louis Vuitton and Bravo casting directors make mistakes. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026

Rahman is positioning himself as a bridge between a political aristocracy that dates back to Bangladesh’s liberation struggle and the aspirations of its young revolutionaries. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026

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