aristocrat

noun

aris·​to·​crat ə-ˈri-stə-ˌkrat 

a-;

ˈa-rə-stə-

1

: a member of an aristocracy

especially : noble

an aristocrat by birth

2

a

: one who has the bearing and viewpoint typical of the aristocracy

b

: one who favors aristocracy

3

: one believed to be superior of its kind

… broadcloth, the aristocrat of clothing …

—B. A. Botkin and Alvin F. Harlow

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.

Synonyms of aristocrat

• noble

Examples of aristocrat in a Sentence

could trace his lineage to an English aristocrat of the 17th century

Recent Examples on the Web

These Virginia aristocrats had been raised on the same Enlightenment thinkers—David Hume and Adam Smith, Montesquieu and Voltaire—as John Adams and Samuel Adams had. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

In Sally Potter’s 1992 masterpiece Orlando, Virginia Woolf’s classic novel of a British aristocrat who is born in the Elizabethan era and goes on to live for hundreds of years—oh, and who also changes genders at around the age of 30—is brought to bold and brilliant visual life. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 June 2026

The 44-page notebook dates to 1778, when the composer was living in Paris and teaching composition lessons to a young aristocrat named Marie-Louise-Philippine de Guînes. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

Members of the monarchy wave from carriages, aristocrats don faintly cartoonish top hats and extravagant millinery threatens to obscure the view at every turn. — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see aristocracy

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aristocrat

• magnificat
• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat

Kids Definition

aristocrat

noun

aris·​to·​crat ə-ˈris-tə-ˌkrat 

a-;

ˈar-ə-stə-

1

: a member of an aristocracy

2

: a person who has habits and ideas like those of the aristocracy

aristocratic

ə-ˌris-tə-ˈkrat-ik, 

a-ˌris-tə-, 

ˌar-ə-stə-

adjective

aristocratically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb