aristocracy

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.

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

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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]

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aristocracy

1. government by the best people.
2. an upper class based on quality, nobility, etc.

See also: Society

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Aristocracy the nobles or chief officials in a state; the privileged class.

Example: aristocracy is the ruling body of the best citizens, 1531.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	aristocracy - a privileged class holding hereditary titles nobility 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.	aristocracy - the most powerful members of a society gentry 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)

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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

aristocracy [ærɪsˈtɔkrəsɪ] n → aristocracia

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aristocracy [ærɪsˈtɔkrəsɪ] n → aristocratie f

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aristocracy [ærɪsˈtɔkrəsɪ] n → Aristokratie f, Adel m

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aristocracy [ærɪsˈtɔkrəsɪ] n → aristocrazia