aristocrat
noun
Southern Living
Did you know?
Since aristos means "best" in Greek, ancient Greeks such as Plato and Aristotle used the word aristocracy to mean a system of rule by the best people—that is, those who deserved to rule because of their intelligence and moral excellence. But this kind of "best" soon became something you could inherit from your parents. The United States has no formal aristocracy—no noble titles such as baron or marquis that stay in the family—but certain American families have achieved an almost aristocratic status because of the wealth they've held onto for generations.
Examples of aristocrat in a Sentence
Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2025
East to West Traverse of the Alps Why: Cycling across the Alps puts an athletic twist on the Grand Tour, a coming-of-age adventure across western Europe that was undertaken by young aristocrats in the 18th century.
—Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 13 May 2025
In 1901, an intrepid German doctor called Eugene von Holländer was approached by a Polish aristocrat looking for smoother skin.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
And again summer approaches and one must sift through all those spoiling invitations that inevitably come rolling in when one is an indolent (and impoverished) European aristocrat — who needs to freeload off the rich and hardworking.
—James Fallon, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for aristocrat
Cite this Entry
“Aristocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocrat. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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aristocrat
noun
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