elitism
Americannoun
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practice of or belief in rule by an elite.
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consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group.
noun
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the belief that society should be governed by a select group of gifted and highly educated individuals
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such government
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pride in or awareness of being one of an elite group
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of elitism
Explanation
The idea that a small, select group of people should get their way is called elitism. Rich politicians and academics alike are sometimes accused of elitism. People who are fans of democracy, believing that all citizens should be able to vote for their governmental representatives, are not likely to be fond of elitism. When governments are made up solely of members of the same family, social class, or specific demographic they can be accused of elitism. Ironically, the root of elitism is the Latin word ēligere, which means "to choose."
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.
Tribunals have been appointed, and Coriolanus’ scornful elitism strikes them as too heavy a price for his military protection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
And as we’re questioning our long-held beliefs about “sink or swim” individualism and intellectual elitism, this is also an interrupter.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
Some noncoastal ad firms as a result are more aggressively pitching themselves as the friendly antithesis to faceless, famous agencies, now embracing rather than apologizing for their lack of metropolitan elitism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
As The Outline saliently noted in 2019, this disposition seemed to suggest a holier-than-thou elitism.
From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2026
Over time, the Meggers-Roosevelt dispute grew bitter and personal; inevitable in a contemporary academic context, it featured charges of colonialism, elitism, and membership in the CIA.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
