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

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

The Iran war had turned one of the world’s most rarefied sports into a high-stakes evacuation mission—one that would be filled with logistical obstacles.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was one thing for Redzepi to showcase the wonders of Nordic cuisine at his rarefied Copenhagen restaurant.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s only his second movie to be admitted into that rarefied category.

From The Wall Street Journal

Trial testimony provided a window into the rarefied world of high-stakes poker, with jurors hearing of gamblers in Asia who went by the names “Chairman” and “Tango.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• esoteric
• exalted
• lofty