aristocratic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to government by an aristocracy.
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belonging to or favoring the aristocracy.
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characteristic of an aristocrat; having the manners, values, or qualities associated with the aristocracy.
aristocratic bearing; aristocratic snobbishness.
adjective
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relating to or characteristic of aristocracy or an aristocrat
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elegant or stylish in appearance and behaviour
Other Word Forms
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aristocraticalnessnoun
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aristocraticnessnoun
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antiaristocraticadjective
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antiaristocraticaladjective
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nonaristocraticadjective
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nonaristocraticaladjective
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proaristocraticadjective
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pseudoaristocraticadjective
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pseudoaristocraticaladjective
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unaristocraticadjective
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antiaristocraticallyadverb
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aristocraticallyadverb
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nonaristocraticallyadverb
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pseudoaristocraticallyadverb
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unaristocraticallyadverb
Etymology
Origin of aristocratic
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Greek aristokratikós “pertaining to aristocracy,” from aristokrat(ía) “rule of the best” ( see aristocracy) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
The word aristocratic describes a person at the highest level of society — such as a prince or a duchess — or those people or things that are so distinguished that they seem to belong to that group. First used around the 1560s, the adjective aristocratic has origins in the Greek word aristokratia, meaning "government, rule of the best." An aristocratic person usually gains this social status through birthright rather than demonstrated merit. Aristocratic can describe someone or something belonging to this group, like an aristocratic estate or an aristocratic leader, but it can also describe something grand and elegant. You might have an aristocratic expression on your face as you attend a formal party.
Vocabulary lists containing aristocratic
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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The Catcher in the Rye
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Content Summary 4.4: Early Modern Islamic Empires
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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.
Aristocratic style became a template for middle-class aspiration in a democratic age.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026
Aristocratic women also regularly served as priests in the royal ancestral cult.
From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023
Aristocratic in origin, high culture accommodated itself to the rise of the middle class while remaining elitist and complicit in inequality.
From Salon • Dec. 25, 2021
Aristocratic and conservative, he lived beyond his means, and, because he was always in debt, he was somewhat for sale.
From Washington Post • Dec. 14, 2018
Aristocratic in her sympathies, philosophic in her intellect, and strictly decorous in her conduct, throughout the whole of her long and checkered life she was regarded with respect.
From Famous Women: George Sand by Thomas, Bertha
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.
