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
Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
The storied high-society event has introduced the daughters of aristocrats (Lady Kitty Spencer), magnates (Delphine Arnault) and politicians (Barbara Berlusconi) — and plenty of Hollywood royals, from Lily Collins and Margaret Qualley to Billie Lourd and, this year, Apple Martin.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2025
An outdoor-loving aristocrat, she was credited for creating an atmosphere of normality for the young princes, particularly after their mother’s death in 1997.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 4 Jan. 2025
Players assume responsibility for characters with powerful abilities: an elf necromancer from a family of aristocrats, say, or a half-orc paladin atoning for past crimes.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for aristocrat 
Dictionary Entries Near aristocrat
Cite this Entry
“Aristocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocrat. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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aristocrat
noun
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