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View synonyms for

elite

Or é·ٱ

[ih-leet, ey-leet]

noun

  1. (used with a plural verb)the choicest or best of anything considered collectively, especially of a group or class of people.

    The elite of the contemporary art scene were all represented at the gallery.

  2. (used with a plural verb)

    1. people of the highest financial or social level of society.

      Only the elite received invites to the event.

    2. a group of people exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group.

      The scandal involved most members of the political party's power elite.

  3. a member of a group of people who have a great deal of power, influence, or social capital.

    The elites don't care about ordinary people's problems.

  4. a type, widely used in typewriters, that is approximately 10-point in size and has 12 characters to the inch.



adjective

  1. representing the choicest or most select; best.

    The program is taught by an elite group of authors.

elite

/ ɪˈliːt, eɪ- /

noun

  1. (sometimes functioning as plural) the most powerful, rich, gifted, or educated members of a group, community, etc

  2. Also called: twelve pitch.a typewriter typesize having 12 characters to the inch

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or suitable for an elite; exclusive

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • antielite noun
  • nonelite noun
  • superelite noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of elite1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English elit “a person elected to office,” from Middle French e(s)lit, past participle of e(s)lire “to choose”; elect
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Word History and Origins

Origin of elite1

C18: from French, from Old French eslit chosen, from eslire to choose, from Latin ŧ to elect
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Meanwhile, Angel of the North sculptor Sir Antony Gormley and physicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell have joined the elite Companions of Honour, an exclusive group limited to only 65 recipients at any one time.

From

Some of the Revolutionary Guards' most elite members operate its shadowy overseas operations arm, the Quds Force, which has ties with armed groups in the region, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, and Yemen.

From

He has earned, and deserves, the elite stage Spurs will give him.

From

With the confirmed killing of Hamas's top military commander Mohammad Sinwar in an Israeli strike, a chapter has closed on the elite leadership group in Gaza that orchestrated the events of 7 October, 2023.

From

The United States Marines are the country’s elite shock troops and an expeditionary force that specializes in amphibious assaults.

From

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Elissaelitism