elitism

noun

elit·​ism ā-ˈlē-ˌti-zəm 

i-,

ē- 

1

: leadership or rule by an elite

2

: the selectivity of the elite

especially : snobbery

elitism in choosing new members

3

: consciousness of being or belonging to an elite

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Velez’s Monday night show in a Greenpoint warehouse was like snapping out of the fashion status quo and into something more personal, a red-eyed glare at fashion’s coast elitism. —Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Feb. 2023

Similarly, Hill writes, grunge was in part a result of Generation X’s eye-rolling at the decadence, jingoism and preppy elitism of the ’80s. —Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2022

In Mark Mylod’s stylish satirical takedown of elitism, capitalistic excess and fetishized food culture, Ralph Fiennes delivers a fiendish turn as an egotistical chef whose restaurant occupies a remote island. —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2022

Still, the institution has never quite relinquished its reputation as a haven of elitism, where fine artists play to connoisseurs at high prices in an atmosphere of precious hush. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2022

Don’t Let This Flop, Rolling Stone‘s podcast about internet news and culture, cohosts Brittany Spanos and Ej Dickson talk with Lewis about Broadway elitism, TikTok-famous ensemble players, and who the real diva of the Funny Girl revival is. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2022

But the educational elitism and buy-in comes at the cost of accessibility. —Hannah Summerhill, ELLE, 26 Aug. 2022

Ironically, anthropomorphism, or tactics like it, might be one way of reducing the harms of such rank elitism. —Eleanor Cummins, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2022

Short films promote the poll’s avant-garde elitism: Meshes of the Afternoon, La Jetée. —Armond White, National Review, 7 Dec. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1