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Synonyms

elite

American  
[ih-leet, ey-leet] / ɪˈlit, eɪˈlit /
Or élite

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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • antielite noun
  • nonelite noun
  • superelite noun

Etymology

Origin of elite

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

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.

Chelsea also announced on Wednesday that their women's team, champions of England's elite Women's Super League for the past three seasons, posted a loss of £17.1 million, despite generating £21.3 million in revenue.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

What angered Scots-Irish Americans most was elite condescension, which aroused the populist uprising that put Jackson in the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The Times Higher Education website claimed recently that philanthropy to elite UK universities is in decline.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Ayewa has sensed judgment from some of the jazz elite.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

“I can definitely take Simone to the elite level,” Aimee told my mom.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

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.