English Explanatory Dictionary

elite

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of high birth or social position; aristocratic or patrician.
  2. Representing the choicest or most select of a group.
noun
  1. A special group or social class of people who have a superior social or economic status and attendant power, advantages, or privileges in society; a member of such a group.
  2. An individual member of such a group.
  3. Someone who is among the best at a certain task.
  4. A typeface with 12 characters per inch.

Pronunciation

/ɪˈliːt/ /ɛˈliːt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-elite.wav /ɪˈlit/ /eɪˈlit/ /əˈlit/ /iˈlit/ [ɪˈlɪit] /əˈliːt/ [əˈlɪit] /ᵻˈlajʈ/

Word forms

elite eliter more elite elitest most elite élite elites

Etymology

From Middle English elit, from Old French elit, eslit (“chosen, elected”) past participle of elire, eslire (“to choose, elect”), from Latin eligere (“to choose, elect”), with past participle electus; see elect.

Related words

elect elegant eligible elitism elitist l33t select selection

Derived words

antielite anti-elite counterelite elitarian elite ball knowledge elite capture elitedom eliteness elite overproduction eliticide elitocracy nonelite subelite superelite unelite coastal elite cyberelite liberal elite metropolitan elite power elite technoelite
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