English Explanatory Dictionary

aristocracy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class.
  2. Government by such a class, or a state with such a government.
  3. A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others.

Pronunciation

/ˌæɹ.ɪˈstɒk.ɹə.si/ en-uk-aristocracy.opus /ˌɛɹ.ɪˈstɑ.kɹə.si/ en-us-aristocracy.ogg

Word forms

aristocracy aristocracies

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French aristocratie, from Medieval Latin aristocratia, from Ancient Greek ἀριστοκρατίᾱ (aristokratíā, “the rule of the best“, that is, “the best-born”, “nobility”), from ἄριστος (áristos, “best, noblest”) + -κρατίᾱ (-kratíā), from κράτος (krátos, “power, rule”). By surface analysis, aristo- + -cracy.

Related words

aristocrat aristocratic

Derived words

antiaristocracy aristocracy of labor aristocracy of labour black aristocracy bunyip aristocracy codfish aristocracy labor aristocracy labour aristocracy
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