elite

Or é·lite

[ih-leet, ey-leet]

noun

1. (used with a plural verb),  the choicest or best of anything considered collectively, especially of a group or class of people.

   The elite of the contemporary art scene were all represented at the gallery.

2. (used with a plural verb)

   1. people of the highest financial or social level of society.

      Only the elite received invites to the event.

   2. a group of people exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group.

      The scandal involved most members of the political party's power elite.

3. a member of a group of people who have a great deal of power, influence, or social capital.

   The elites don't care about ordinary people's problems.

4. a type, widely used in typewriters, that is approximately 10-point in size and has 12 characters to the inch.

adjective

1. representing the choicest or most select; best.

   The program is taught by an elite group of authors.

elite

/ ɪˈliːt, eɪ- /

noun

1. (sometimes functioning as plural) the most powerful, rich, gifted, or educated members of a group, community, etc

2. Also called: twelve pitch. a typewriter typesize having 12 characters to the inch

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suitable for an elite; exclusive

Other Word Forms

• antielite noun
• nonelite noun
• superelite noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elite¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English elit “a person elected to office,” from Middle French e(s)lit, past participle of e(s)lire “to choose”; elect

Word History and Origins

Origin of elite¹

C18: from French, from Old French eslit chosen, from eslire to choose, from Latin ēligere to _elect

Example Sentences

There were fewer players playing grassroots rugby and, for an added bonus, England had stalled and slipped back at the elite level as well.

From BBC

He doesn’t care what they think and is righteously angry that they won’t bend to his whims quite as readily as university presidents and elite law firms do.

From Salon

Tech billionaire Larry Ellison and his son, Hollywood producer David, have long walked the halls of the world's elite.

From BBC

It was not "careless or accidental" but part of a strategy to "draw a dividing line between elites and the people", he added.

From BBC

Many gullible liberal elites wish to believe that the radical jihadists of Hamas do not represent the broader Palestinian-Arab population, but that is a lie.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aristocracy 
• celebrity 
• establishment 
• society