elite 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of elitenext
as in exclusive

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elite

2 of 2

noun

i-ˈlēt How to pronounce elite (audio)
1
as in aristocracy
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nobility
the highest class in a society the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth

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 elite
Adjective
Inscriptions within this tomb preserve the names of his wife, Tuwi, Lady of the House; his mother, Atibyu, a Singer of Amun; and his four sons, offering rare insight into the family life of an elite New Kingdom official. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026 Wells is still grappling for answers about what exactly led to the 18-year-old elite athlete's death during a July 4 boat trip with friends off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. — ABC News, 22 July 2026
Noun
Reconstructing everyday life in Pompeii Part of the allure of discoveries at Pompeii have been the impressive homes, covered in colorful murals, of the city’s elite. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 The philosopher Michael Sandel (Rhodes Scholar, Harvard professor) accuses elites of hiding their privilege behind spurious claims of merit. — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for elite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elite
  1. exclusive
  2. aristocracy
  3. nobility
  4. special
  5. best
  6. gentry
  7. better
  8. top
Adjective
  • The Sanctuary Club is an exclusive, adults-only space on the Star Princess available to passengers in Sanctuary Collection staterooms.
    — Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
  • Co-directed by Alexandra Orton, the film combines Maddox’s personal video diaries, therapy sessions, and exclusive interviews while descending into Manson’s early background and sensationalized media persona as a monster.
    — Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 22 July 2026
Definition of exclusive
Noun
  • Orangeries, once a status symbol for European aristocracy, are a glamorous accoutrement in large town or country houses.
    — Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • At last, Jones also thought, there was a chance to spotlight the dynamic between North Wales‘ working-class community and its aristocracy on the big screen, a corner of Britain’s social history that has long been sidelined.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Definition of aristocracy
Noun
  • Gustaf Lagerbielke, a 26-year-old center back, comes from a line of nobility, particularly Counts, in his home country.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 24 June 2026
Definition of nobility
Adjective
  • The White House Correspondents' Association presented a special award, the President's Award for Exceptional Service, to Gonzales and the staff of the Washington Hilton during Friday night's dinner.
    — Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • Aside from firearm education and training, Valkyrie plans to offer a host of special events, courses and instructors, the pair said.
    — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
Definition of special
Noun
  • His hitting metrics are all career bests, and he’s headed for his fourth consecutive season of 20-plus homers.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Atwell, the 26-year-old five-year veteran, has modest career bests of 67 receptions (2023), 562 yards (2024), and three touchdowns (2023).
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Definition of best
Noun
  • Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of gentry
Adjective
  • Without better reporting, lawmakers and analysts will have to act with incomplete knowledge, essentially guessing effective tax rates based on limited and sometimes misleading reporting.
    — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • By better understanding how the AAC organizes vocal output in budgerigars, researchers hope to gain new insights into human speech disorders, such as aphasia and Parkinson’s disease, which can impair a person’s ability to produce language.
    — Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of better
Noun
  • That could be a bad sign for Everton Blair, the former Gwinnett County School Board chairman who needs a strong turnout from his home county in order to rise to the top of the five-person contest.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 24 July 2026
  • But most of those players were unable to establish themselves at the top of the game with Madrid or flourish within the national team’s style.
    — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of top

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elisions
elite
elites
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Cite this Entry

“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elite. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elite

Nglish: Translation of elite for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elite

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