aristocrat
noun
Southern Living
Did you know?
Since aristos means "best" in Greek, ancient Greeks such as Plato and Aristotle used the word aristocracy to mean a system of rule by the best people—that is, those who deserved to rule because of their intelligence and moral excellence. But this kind of "best" soon became something you could inherit from your parents. The United States has no formal aristocracy—no noble titles such as baron or marquis that stay in the family—but certain American families have achieved an almost aristocratic status because of the wealth they've held onto for generations.
Examples of aristocrat in a Sentence
Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Dividend aristocrats are companies that have raised their dividends in each of the past 25 years.
—Brian Evans, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2025
Vienna welcomes its newest guests—American politicians, European aristocrats, and scandalous socialites.
—Martine Paris, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The company is also a dividend aristocrat , having raised dividends for at least 25 years.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aristocrat
Cite this Entry
“Aristocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocrat. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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aristocrat
noun
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