aristocrat
noun
Southern Living
Did you know?
Since aristos means "best" in Greek, ancient Greeks such as Plato and Aristotle used the word aristocracy to mean a system of rule by the best people—that is, those who deserved to rule because of their intelligence and moral excellence. But this kind of "best" soon became something you could inherit from your parents. The United States has no formal aristocracy—no noble titles such as baron or marquis that stay in the family—but certain American families have achieved an almost aristocratic status because of the wealth they've held onto for generations.
Examples of aristocrat in a Sentence
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2025
Extending her already impressive range, Thompson carries herself like a blue-blooded aristocrat, her spine straight and lips pursed, all the better to sharpen her features.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
German elites, particularly the aristocrats who dominated the country’s military, industry, and bureaucracy, loathed the Weimar Republic.
—Time, 23 Oct. 2025
With that in mind, here are some of the names in Goldman's buyback aristocrats basket.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aristocrat
Cite this Entry
“Aristocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocrat. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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aristocrat
noun
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