aristocracy
noun
ar·is·toc·ra·cy
ˌa-rə-ˈstä-krə-sē 
ˌer-ə-
plural aristocracies
1
: government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class
2
a
: a government in which power is vested (see vest entry 2 sense 1a) in a minority consisting of those believed to be best qualified
b
: a state with such a government
3
: a governing body or upper class usually made up of a hereditary nobility
a member of the British aristocracy
4
: a class or group of people believed to be superior (as in rank, wealth, or intellect)
an intellectual aristocracy
Synonyms
Examples of aristocracy in a Sentence
a member of the aristocracy
at one time in China only the aristocracy could own land
Recent Examples on the Web
However, because Edo descends from Italian aristocracy, his father previously told the Daily Mail that any of his children would be counts or nobile donna.
—
Janine Henni, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
In the faux aristocracy that is Hollywood, a Blake Lively should not have reason to meaningfully cross paths with a Justin Baldoni.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Yet, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit goes well beyond the traditional signposts by adopting a quasi-Ealing feel to its superficially cozy country setting, and by showcasing the comically haughty side of the British aristocracy.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
For the new wave of Black media, the post-Katt Williams moment leading to the Great Rap War became a coronation of the new aristocracy.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
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Janine Henni, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
In the faux aristocracy that is Hollywood, a Blake Lively should not have reason to meaningfully cross paths with a Justin Baldoni.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Yet, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit goes well beyond the traditional signposts by adopting a quasi-Ealing feel to its superficially cozy country setting, and by showcasing the comically haughty side of the British aristocracy.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
For the new wave of Black media, the post-Katt Williams moment leading to the Great Rap War became a coronation of the new aristocracy.
—Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for aristocracy
Dictionary Entries Near aristocracy
Cite this Entry
“Aristocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocracy. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aristocracy
noun
ar·is·toc·ra·cy
ˌar-ə-ˈstäk-rə-sē
plural aristocracies
1
: a government run by a small class of people
2
a
: an upper class that is usually based on birth and is richer and more powerful than the rest of society
b
: persons thought to be better than the rest of the community
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