elite 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of elitenext
as in exclusive

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elite

2 of 2

noun

i-ˈlēt How to pronounce elite (audio)
1
as in aristocracy
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nobility
the highest class in a society the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elite
Adjective
The latter grew up at the elite Lundsberg boarding school, where his mother worked as a cleaner. — Annika Pham, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026 Large public Southern universities can offer substantial merit scholarships, including to out-of-state students, while such awards can be much harder to come by at some elite private universities. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
Tension around the role of religion in these schools was matched by a clash between the Japanese community and the white business and political elite in Hawaii. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 21 Aug. 2026 From Saint Laurent to Zara, luxury houses and affordable retailers alike have released their own take on performance outerwear as the gorpcore trend continues its chokehold on the fashion elite. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elite
  1. exclusive
  2. aristocracy
  3. nobility
  4. special
  5. best
  6. gentry
  7. better
  8. top
Adjective
  • In an exclusive statement sent to WWD, Hall expressed her admiration for the award-winning makeup artist and the creative behind the campaign.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Her duties include reading slush-pile submissions, making coffee, and tending to the needs of high-profile guests during Platen’s many exclusive fêtes.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of exclusive
Noun
  • Just a few days earlier at Palazzo Brancaccio, the ladies of the Roman aristocracy had vied to appear in the ballroom scenes, perhaps hoping to meet Gregory Peck.
    — Daria Egidi, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Upon his arrival in London, Mai became something of a celebrity among the aristocracy, and was welcomed by King George III.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of aristocracy
Noun
  • He was branded a heretic, in part for preaching that the nobility were immoral and so was nobility itself.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Originally published in Esquire magazine, this group portrait of jazz nobility was photographed at 17 East 126th Street in New York City.
    — David Morgan, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of nobility
Adjective
  • At a special fair contest, Iowa pie bakers gave the Pie Lady Louise Piper a fitting farewell.
    — Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 28 Aug. 2026
  • If your stay involves a special occasion, the Teppanyaki show-cooking experience makes for an unforgettable celebration.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of special
Noun
  • Benton had career bests in tackles (51), tackles for loss (6) and sacks (5 1/2) while helping the Steelers to the AFC North title.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • With the three-row Kia Sorento, the Hyundai Palisade retains the South Korean brands’ 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, both segment and industry bests.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of best
Noun
  • Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of gentry
Adjective
  • Without better reporting, lawmakers and analysts will have to act with incomplete knowledge, essentially guessing effective tax rates based on limited and sometimes misleading reporting.
    — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • By better understanding how the AAC organizes vocal output in budgerigars, researchers hope to gain new insights into human speech disorders, such as aphasia and Parkinson’s disease, which can impair a person’s ability to produce language.
    — Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of better
Noun
  • Anna and Jude end up in the top, and Jude scores his third win.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Pinning down Pinhead One film has been at the top of the wish list of Horror Nights honchos for more than 10 years, Sauls said.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of top

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elisions
elite
elites
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Cite this Entry

“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elite. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elite

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elite

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