aristocrat
noun
B. A. Botkin and Alvin F. Harlow
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
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
1 July 2026
Joel David Smallbone is briefly amusing as a cranky aristocrat and the rest of the cast does what they are expected to do.
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Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 July 2026
These Virginia aristocrats had been raised on the same Enlightenment thinkers—David Hume and Adam Smith, Montesquieu and Voltaire—as John Adams and Samuel Adams had.
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James Traub,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
The 44-page notebook dates to 1778, when the composer was living in Paris and teaching composition lessons to a young aristocrat named Marie-Louise-Philippine de Guînes.
—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for aristocrat
Cite this Entry
“Aristocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocrat. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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aristocrat
noun
