aristocracy Hear it!

aristocracy definition

ar·is·toc·racy (ar′i stä′krə sē, er′-)

noun pl. aristocracies -·cies

  1. Historical government by the best citizens
  2. government by a privileged minority or upper class, usually of inherited wealth and social position
  3. a country with this form of government; oligarchy
  4. a privileged ruling class; nobility
  5. those considered the best in some way an aristocracy of scientists
  6. aristocratic quality or spirit

Etymology: L aristocratia < Gr aristokratia < aristos, best + -kratia, rule < kratos, power, rule: see hard

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.