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
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann Knightley played Elizabeth Swann, an aristocrat who is rescued by Sparrow and Turner after being kidnapped by rival pirates.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village was once home to esteemed aristocrats of the royal court but now features one of the city’s most elegant hotels that’s styled like a hanok (Korean traditional house).
—Leslie Patrick, AFAR Media, 15 Apr. 2025
The English aristocrat was one-half of one of TV‘s greatest romances, having fallen in love with Brandon Sklenar’s big game hunter Spencer Dutton in equatorial Africa.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 6 Apr. 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 1 May. 2025.
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aristocrat
noun
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