elitism
Americannoun
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practice of or belief in rule by an elite.
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consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group.
noun
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the belief that society should be governed by a select group of gifted and highly educated individuals
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such government
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pride in or awareness of being one of an elite group
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of elitism
Explanation
The idea that a small, select group of people should get their way is called elitism. Rich politicians and academics alike are sometimes accused of elitism. People who are fans of democracy, believing that all citizens should be able to vote for their governmental representatives, are not likely to be fond of elitism. When governments are made up solely of members of the same family, social class, or specific demographic they can be accused of elitism. Ironically, the root of elitism is the Latin word ēligere, which means "to choose."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To be made to feel shame for this — including feeling compelled to reduce any conversation to whispers — could only be an exercise rooted in elitism.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
As The Outline saliently noted in 2019, this disposition seemed to suggest a holier-than-thou elitism.
From Slate • Feb. 12, 2026
Maybe CFB should go Waymo, blame the robots for any uproar about gatekeeping and big-school elitism and let the smoke-filled room return to cognacs and afternoon naps.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025
"She took away the elitism that was in fashion, and brought a democratisation, and made fashion this party that everybody else was invited to."
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025
Over time, the Meggers-Roosevelt dispute grew bitter and personal; inevitable in a contemporary academic context, it featured charges of colonialism, elitism, and membership in the CIA.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
