elitist

American  

[ih-lee-tist, ey-lee‑] / ɪˈli tɪst, eɪˈli‑ /

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.

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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

Etymology

Origin of elitist

elite + -ist

Explanation

Elitist is another word for snob. If you wear only the finest silk suits, expect caviar at every meal, and refuse to speak to anyone who doesn't have a PhD, then you might be an elitist. A fairly recent addition to the English language, the noun elitist, came about from a mix of elite + ist in 1950. Carlyle, Freud, and Nietzsche were all considered to be the original elitists. Elite, from which elitist was formed, evolved much earlier, in 1823, from the French élite, meaning “selection, choice.” Synonyms for elitist include highbrow, pompous person, social climber, and stuffed shirt.

Example Sentences

The study, Elitist Britain, looked at the schools and universities attended by 5,000 high achievers at the top of business, politics, the media, public organisations, creative industries and sport.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2019

But it appears that as part of his embrace of Facebook Groups, Zuckerberg has decided to join Harvard’s undergraduate meme community — Harvard Memes for Elitist 1% Tweens.

From The Verge • Nov. 10, 2018

My Kind of Elitist Obama and Romney may disagree on many things, but there is no questions they are both members of the “elite.”

From Slate • Jul. 11, 2012

Elitist, somebody sniffed, and no loss to the city.

From The Guardian • Apr. 9, 2010

Elitist snickering rose to poisonous levels in Washington when Dwight Ei senhower painted by the numbers, read westerns, ate on a TV tray and fished for trout in a stocked stream.

From Time Magazine Archive