elitist

[ih-lee-tist, ey-lee‑]

adjective

1. (of a person or class of persons) considered superior by others or by themselves, as in intellect, talent, power, wealth, or position in society.

   elitist country clubbers who have theirs and don't care about anybody else.

2. catering to or associated with an elitist class, its ideologies, or its institutions.

   Even at such a small, private college, Latin and Greek are under attack as too elitist.

noun

1. a person having, thought to have, or professing superior intellect or talent, power, wealth, or membership in the upper echelons of society.

   He lost a congressional race in Texas by being smeared as an Eastern elitist.

2. a person who believes in the superiority of an elitist class.

Other Word Forms

• antielitist noun
• nonelitist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elitist¹

elite + -ist

Example Sentences

Fuentes correctly identifies that Carlson is a dishonest fraud who plays a populist character, when in fact he is an elitist who has contempt for his audience.

From Salon

He signaled his elitist proclivities months ago when he sent prepaid phones to 100 heads of major corporations along with notes inviting them to use the speed-dial programming to reach him directly.

From Salon

"In Spain it started as that premium elitist sport, but now it's far from it - it's second to football in terms of participation."

From BBC

Stanton is a bit of an elitist; Anthony actually comes from a more reformist, anti-slavery tradition, but she still makes those expedient compromises, which I think costs the suffrage movement.

From Salon

Sinn Féin campaigned to have it abolished in 2013, claiming it was "elitist and out of touch without any accountability".

From BBC