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culturati

American  
[kuhl-chuh-rah-tee, -ray-tahy] / ˌkʌl tʃəˈrɑ ti, -ˈreɪ taɪ /

noun

(usually used with a plural verb)
  1. people deeply interested in cultural and artistic matters.

    Discerning culturati are eagerly awaiting the museum's opening.


Etymology

Origin of culturati

First recorded in 1890–95; culture + -ati, patterned on literati


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.

See Examples For:

It had bastard status among classical culturati from the get-go, which kept it out of the concert halls where it arguably belonged as a rightful heir to other long-form orchestral music.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2026

Often enough, the laughing was of the can’t-catch-your-breath variety, further dizzying the ambivalence of the culturati by punching both high and low.

From New York Times ● Apr. 3, 2024

When Jake G. also got caught in the snare, some pop culturati encouraged him to get out of town until the heat cooled off.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 23, 2021

The world of “Non-Fiction” is itself what autofiction would look like if it were made as a commercial for the culturati.

From The New Yorker ● May 3, 2019

The culturati have officially reached the end of the world.

From Slate ● Aug. 30, 2016

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