aristocrat

American  

[uh-ris-tuh-krat, ar-uh-stuh-] / əˈrɪs təˌkræt, ˈær ə stə- /

noun

1. a member of an aristocracy, especially a noble.

   Synonyms:

   lord , peer , patrician

2. a person who has the tastes, manners, etc., characteristic of members of an aristocracy.

3. an advocate of an aristocratic form of government.

4. anything regarded as the best, most elegant, or most stylish of its kind.

   the aristocrat of California wines.

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aristocrat British  

/ ˈærɪstəˌkræt /

noun

1. a member of the aristocracy; a noble

2. a person who has the manners or qualities of a member of a privileged or superior class

3. a person who advocates aristocracy as a form of government

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Etymology

Origin of aristocrat

First recorded in 1770–80; from French aristocrate, back formation from aristocratie aristocracy

Example Sentences

Rotting turnips could feed animals and make great compost, but this didn't exactly endear them to aristocrats.

From Salon

Why conflate early Renaissance aristocrats with early 20th century bootleggers?

From Los Angeles Times

A valet is in some ways a vestige of an earlier era, when aristocrats and other powerful men employed a personal servant to help them dress each day.

From Washington Post

But later generations who settled in London married up and out, with Ashkenazis as well as gentiles; they remade themselves as British aristocrats, not all of them gifted in business.

From New York Times

In the 40 years since, she has become internationally renowned for vivid portraits of her intimates — as well as European aristocrats and celebrities — all framed within their own rarefied milieus.

From New York Times

Related Words

• noble