1
as in nobility
the highest class in a society
at one time in China only the aristocracy could own land
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in elite
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
membership in the society is reserved for the literary world's aristocracy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aristocracy
College football has always been an aristocracy, and most fans like it that way.
—
Austin Perry Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Breyer is married to Joanna Freda Hare, a psychologist and member of the British aristocracy.
—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
The lower classes and the clergy had always hated the Castilians, and the Portuguese aristocracy and the commercial classes—previously content with the patronage and the economic opportunities that the union with Spain had provided—had become dissatisfied during the preceding 20 years.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
The Marquess of Hartington and a member of the British aristocracy.
—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aristocracy
Austin Perry Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Breyer is married to Joanna Freda Hare, a psychologist and member of the British aristocracy.
—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
The lower classes and the clergy had always hated the Castilians, and the Portuguese aristocracy and the commercial classes—previously content with the patronage and the economic opportunities that the union with Spain had provided—had become dissatisfied during the preceding 20 years.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
The Marquess of Hartington and a member of the British aristocracy.
—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aristocracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aristocracy
Noun
-
But as far as nobility in football goes, Lagerbielke is a rare player to make it this far in their career, with a bright future seemingly still ahead.
-
This piece of jewelry, worn by Princess Elisabeth, was a wedding gift from the Belgian nobility to Mathilde on the occasion of her wedding in 1999.
Noun
-
Unlike Plato, Antisthenes did not believe that true knowledge of virtue, justice, and related concepts can be understood only by a select intellectual elite.
-
Social change tools once reserved for elites — academics, think tanks, publishers, media moguls — were now on everyone’s phones.
Noun
-
His objections were financial and social: Constable had no steady income, and his family was not gentry.
-
The nobles and gentry—the billionaires of Tudor England—made fortunes from the reclaimed monastery lands and created a myth of Henry’s military strength and English pride.
Noun
-
The most productive game of his career came in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, with personal bests of 157 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions.
-
In all, Enhanced said there were 14 personal bests set by 12 athletes, all of them swimmers and weightlifters.
Noun
-
These kinetic battles are creating the kind of real-life human interactions that aren’t so common in a modern society that revolves around smartphones.
-
By contrast, generations of pubs have catered to a broad swath of society, so many Melburnians enjoy eating out affordably as a matter of course.
Noun
-
The licensee needs to submit reports on a regular basis, such as reporting sales each quarter which determines royalties owed.
-
Her show has picked up viewers over the years, and Coon has become television royalty after The White Lotus (and, for some voters, The Leftovers).
Noun
-
But his situation is actually fairly complicated, in part because of how the Hall of Fame elects candidates.
-
Lyons had joined Fiserv that January as president and CEO-elect.
Noun
-
Parsi priesthood is hereditary, meaning all the boys here have been born into priestly families.
-
Cosmetics in 2004 but left in 2019, is sharing a glimpse into his spiritual journey to priesthood.
Cite this Entry
“Aristocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aristocracy. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
