aristocrat

noun

aris·​to·​crat ə-ˈri-stə-ˌkrat How to pronounce aristocrat (audio)
a-;
ˈa-rə-stə-
1
: a member of an aristocracy
especially : noble
an aristocrat by birth
2
a
: one who has the bearing and viewpoint typical of the aristocracy
b
: one who favors aristocracy
3
: one believed to be superior of its kind
the aristocrat of Southern resortsSouthern 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

could trace his lineage to an English aristocrat of the 17th century
Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, the despondent aristocrat Pierre is seeking the true meaning of his existence — a Russian literary trope if ever there was one. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024 The bidet originated in France, used by aristocrats as a separate piece of furniture next to the chamber pot. Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aristocrat 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aristocrat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see aristocracy

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aristocrat was in 1787

Dictionary Entries Near aristocrat

Cite this Entry

“Aristocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocrat. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

aristocrat

noun
aris·​to·​crat ə-ˈris-tə-ˌkrat How to pronounce aristocrat (audio)
a-;
ˈar-ə-stə-
1
: a member of an aristocracy
2
: a person who has habits and ideas like those of the aristocracy
aristocratic
ə-ˌris-tə-ˈkrat-ik
a-ˌris-tə-
ˌar-ə-stə-
adjective
aristocratically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on aristocrat

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