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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• ultrararefied adjective
• unrarefied adjective

Etymology

Origin of rarefied

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

Example Sentences

The recital acted like a religious experience in which a rarefied atmosphere befits radiance.

From Los Angeles Times

Optimism about its growing AI business gave the Google parent entry to a rarefied club.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was a very rarefied situation, which was nice.

From Los Angeles Times

Managing more assets can mean the ability to offer clients more rarefied investment products and the sort of one-stop shop they say clients are seeking.

From The Wall Street Journal

That is something that I learned from people who were raised in a much more rarefied environment than I was.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• esoteric
• exalted
• lofty