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Showing results for rarefied. Search instead for rarefiers.
Synonyms

rarefied

American  
[rair-uh-fahyd] / ˈrɛər əˌfaɪd /

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 British  
/ 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

"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

  • ultrararefied adjective
  • unrarefied adjective

Etymology

Origin of rarefied

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

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.

Dictators may be faithless and brutal to their own people, but in the rarefied circle of fellow dictators, a kind of camaraderie flourishes.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

The last time Ireland visited Allianz Stadium, in 2024, they had just equalled England's Six Nations record of 11 straight wins and were chasing the rarefied air of back-to-back Grand Slams.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

The veteran prop, 36, will enter rarefied air on Sunday when he takes the field in Christchurch against the Canterbury Crusaders as he closes in on the all-time appearance record of 202.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Instead, he ascended to rarefied levels of the sport by mastering the technical aspects of the game, from route running to body control, at an extreme level.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Corrections was, albeit in a rarefied macho way, a “people-skills” profession.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

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.