elitist
Americanadjective
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(of a person or class of persons) considered superior by others or by themselves, as in intellect, talent, power, wealth, or position in society.
elitist country clubbers who have theirs and don't care about anybody else.
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catering to or associated with an elitist class, its ideologies, or its institutions.
Even at such a small, private college, Latin and Greek are under attack as too elitist.
noun
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a person having, thought to have, or professing superior intellect or talent, power, wealth, or membership in the upper echelons of society.
He lost a congressional race in Texas by being smeared as an Eastern elitist.
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a person who believes in the superiority of an elitist class.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of elitist
Explanation
Elitist is another word for snob. If you wear only the finest silk suits, expect caviar at every meal, and refuse to speak to anyone who doesn't have a PhD, then you might be an elitist. A fairly recent addition to the English language, the noun elitist, came about from a mix of elite + ist in 1950. Carlyle, Freud, and Nietzsche were all considered to be the original elitists. Elite, from which elitist was formed, evolved much earlier, in 1823, from the French élite, meaning “selection, choice.” Synonyms for elitist include highbrow, pompous person, social climber, and stuffed shirt.
Vocabulary lists containing elitist
Word Generation Social Studies - Ancient Civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome
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President Obama's Commencement Address (2016)
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"Thomas Jefferson: The Best of Enemies" by Ron Chernow
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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.
In a world of Spirit haters and elitist never-Spirit fliers, I saw and welcomed Spirit’s place in the airline world.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026
They’re insincere and elitist and out of touch and smug in many respects, from the perspective of a young man.
From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026
Ahead of a show at the city's Opera House this month, McLean told BBC Manchester about his experience as a black male ballet dancer from Moss Side plunged into the "elitist" world of professional ballet.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026
One might say that, three years ahead of the show’s jump to YouTube, Academy voters are making a concerted effort to distance themselves from the perception that the Oscars are elitist and pretentious.
From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026
“Well, he can’t be all that elitist if he accepted me,” I said.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
