elite

Or é·lite

[ih-leet, ey-leet]

noun

1. (used with a plural verb),  the choicest or best of anything considered collectively, especially of a group or class of people.

   The elite of the contemporary art scene were all represented at the gallery.

2. (used with a plural verb)

   1. people of the highest financial or social level of society.

      Only the elite received invites to the event.

   2. a group of people exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group.

      The scandal involved most members of the political party's power elite.

3. a member of a group of people who have a great deal of power, influence, or social capital.

   The elites don't care about ordinary people's problems.

4. a type, widely used in typewriters, that is approximately 10-point in size and has 12 characters to the inch.

adjective

1. representing the choicest or most select; best.

   The program is taught by an elite group of authors.

elite

/ ɪˈliːt, eɪ- /

noun

1. (sometimes functioning as plural) the most powerful, rich, gifted, or educated members of a group, community, etc

2. Also called: twelve pitch. a typewriter typesize having 12 characters to the inch

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suitable for an elite; exclusive

Other Word Forms

• antielite noun
• nonelite noun
• superelite noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elite¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English elit “a person elected to office,” from Middle French e(s)lit, past participle of e(s)lire “to choose”; elect

Word History and Origins

Origin of elite¹

C18: from French, from Old French eslit chosen, from eslire to choose, from Latin ēligere to _elect

Example Sentences

Each week that passes without clarity feeds the sense that a player who has won every major title, who was named The Best, and who remains among the elite, is somehow still fighting for acceptance.

From BBC

Most viewers and listeners are not elite athletes, but many are seeking to eat and drink as if they were.

From BBC

The exact cause has not yet been found, but elite athletes appear disproportionately affected by MND.

From BBC

Their goal is more doable: leveraging American power to ensure the continued dominance of the billionaire elite for at least as long as our planet remains habitable.

From Salon

Since then, travel agencies and brokers have drawn people from all over the world to join what they call Russia’s “elite international battalion,” dangling a raft of benefits to attract would-be recruits.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aristocracy 
• celebrity 
• establishment 
• society