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aristocracy
(redirected from aristocracies)

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
ar·is·toc·ra·cy  (r-stkr-s)
n. pl. ar·is·toc·ra·cies
1. A hereditary ruling class; nobility.
2.
a. Government by a ruling class.
b. A state or country having this form of government.
3.
a. Government by the citizens deemed to be best qualified to lead.
b. A state having such a government.
4. A group or class considered superior to others.

[Late Latin aristocratia, government by the best, from Greek aristokrati : aristos, best; see ar- in Indo-European roots + kratos, power; see -cracy.]

aristocracy
Noun
pl -cies
1. a class of people of high social rank
2. government by this class
3. a group of people considered to be outstanding in a particular sphere of activity [Greek aristos best + kratein to rule]

aristocracy
1. government by the best people.
2. an upper class based on quality, nobility, etc.
See also: Society
Aristocracy the nobles or chief officials in a state; the privileged class.
Example: aristocracy is the ruling body of the best citizens, 1531.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.aristocracyaristocracy - a privileged class holding hereditary titles
elite, elite group - a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status
noblesse - members of the nobility (especially of the French nobility)
baronage, peerage - the peers of a kingdom considered as a group
baronetage - the collective body of baronets
knighthood - aristocrats holding the rank of knight
samurai - feudal Japanese military aristocracy
aristocrat, blue blood, patrician - a member of the aristocracy
2.aristocracyaristocracy - the most powerful members of a society
upper class, upper crust - the class occupying the highest position in the social hierarchy
landed gentry, squirearchy - the gentry who own land (considered as a class)

aristocracy
noun upper class, elite, nobility, gentry, peerage, ruling class, patricians, upper crust (informal) noblesse (literary) haut monde (French) patriciate, body of nobles << OPPOSITE commoners
Translations
Spanish aristocracy [ærɪsˈtɔkrəsɪ] naristocracia
French aristocracy [ærɪsˈtɔkrəsɪ] naristocratie f
German aristocracy [ærɪsˈtɔkrəsɪ] nAristokratie f, Adel m
Italian aristocracy [ærɪsˈtɔkrəsɪ] naristocrazia

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