aristocracy

1 the highest class in a society at one time in China only the aristocracy could own land Synonyms elite, gentility, gentlefolk (also gentlefolks), gentry, nobility, patriciate, quality, upper class, upper crust Related Words A-list, beau monde, beautiful people, café society, Four Hundred (or 400), glitterati, haut monde (also haute monde), jet set, society; carriage trade, plutocracy Near Antonyms commoners, (the) crowd, (the) masses, peasantry, peonage, (the) people, plebeians, plebs, (the) populace, (the) public, rank and file; bourgeoisie, middle class, working class; dregs, (the) herd, (the) mob, rabble, rabblement, riffraff, scum, trash Antonyms proletarians, proletariat

2 individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class membership in the society is reserved for the literary world's aristocracy Synonyms A-list, elite, best, choice, corps d'elite, cream, crème de la crème, elect, fat, flower, illuminati, pick, pink, pride, priesthood, prime, royalty, upper crustRelated Words establishment, gentry, nobility, quality, society, top, top drawer, upper class; caviar (also caviare); who's whoNear Antonyms commoners, herd, hoi polloi, masses, millions, mob, multitude, rank and file, unwashed