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
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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.
While brands that trade on comfort and aristocratic pedigree such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley have invested heavily, more performance-oriented badges such as Aston Martin, McLaren and Lamborghini have said they don’t see a market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Another caption explains that: “Jewellery and equipment in the graves of many wealthy and aristocratic women reflect the complex roles these women had.”
From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026
But it meant that as we sat down, with oil paintings of Earl Spencer's aristocratic ancestors staring down at our TV lights, the interview was not just about his recollections of his sister.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
The Sunday Times reported that George Cottrell, a 32-year-old crypto entrepreneur from an aristocratic family, rents a mansion near Buckingham Palace where Farage has stayed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
A neatly trimmed mustache connected to a beard that covered only his chin lent him an elegant, vaguely aristocratic air.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
