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

That’s likely due to the infamy of his father, Oswald Mosley—a politician and aristocrat best known for founding the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s. —Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026

Investors seeking relative safety are turning to consistent dividend payers – and Wolfe Research has highlighted a few emerging dividend aristocrats that may offer them some stability. —Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026

On Noah junior had settled the lighter skin, pencil-line lips, and delicately bridged nose of his father, while Jesse's nose was soft as gingerbread, his eyes bulgy, his head big, and too much of his lower lip turned over to hope he'd ever be taken for a black aristocrat. —Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

Other historians, as well as the International Olympic Committee, credit French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin with proposing the revival in 1894. —Ayana Archie, NPR, 18 Feb. 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