rarefied

[rair-uh-fahyd]

adjective

1. extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted.

   the rarefied atmosphere of a scholarly symposium.

2. of, belonging to, or appealing to an exclusive group; select; esoteric.

   rarefied tastes.

rarefied

/ ˈrɛərɪˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. exalted in nature or character; lofty

   a rarefied spiritual existence

2. current within only a small group; esoteric or exclusive

3. (of a gas, esp the atmosphere at high altitudes) having a low density; thin

Other Word Forms

• ultrararefied adjective
• unrarefied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rarefied¹

First recorded in 1660–70; rarefy + -ed ²

Example Sentences

There are two tennis geniuses operating in a rarefied atmosphere—and then there’s everyone else.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

After the fortnight the prime minister has had, a spot of rarefied pageantry is just the ticket.

Read more on BBC

But for Belgravia's gilded set, being told to leave the rarefied streets and return to a supposedly less desirable part of the English capital cuts deep.

Read more on BBC

While you may not have a Melinda Gates in your life to call on, recent studies show that gender stereotypes continue to persist far beyond the rarefied world of fundraising conversations between founders and investors.

Read more on Salon

For many people, it was a glimpse into the rarefied world of the Vatican, and the highly secretive process of choosing a leader for the Roman Catholic Church.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• esoteric 
• exalted 
• lofty