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
R29 Team, refinery29.com, 25 Oct. 2024
This Dracula is an aristocrat; his cultured nature and Old World legacy add a layer of sophisticated menace to the bloodsucker.
—James Grebey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
In 1999 the Labor government of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair evicted most of the more than 750 hereditary peers from the Lords, though to avoid an aristocrats’ rebellion, 92 were allowed to remain temporarily.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024
Palo has many churches brimming with ecclesiastical art; like the Baroque Chiesa del Purgatorio, originally built for the parish’s aristocrats, according to Angela Coscia, a local culture expert.
—Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Aristocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocrat. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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aristocrat
noun
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