English Meaning & Definitions
Demonstrating or characterized by the belief that a select group of people with superior intellect, wealth, or social status should hold power or deserve special treatment.
- “The university was criticized for its elitist admissions policy that favored children of wealthy alumni.”
- “He made an elitist remark about how only people with advanced degrees should be allowed to vote.”
A person who believes that a society should be led by an elite group or who behaves as if they belong to a superior social or intellectual class.
- “Critics dismissed the candidate as an out-of-touch elitist who did not understand the struggles of the working class.”
- “She was accused of being an elitist because she refused to associate with anyone outside of her private social circle.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “elitist”.
Derived from the French 'élite' (meaning 'chosen' or 'best'), which stems from the Latin 'eligere' (to choose or select). The suffix '-ist' was added in the 20th century to describe a person who believes in or advocates for the dominance of a select group, often implying a sense of superiority.
Think of an 'elite' person who thinks they are on a 'list' above everyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions About “elitist”
1. What is the meaning of “elitist” in English?
In English, elitist (adjective) is defined as: “Demonstrating or characterized by the belief that a select group of people with superior intellect, wealth, or social status should hold power or deserve special treatment.”.
2. How do you use “elitist” in a sentence?
“The university was criticized for its elitist admissions policy that favored children of wealthy alumni.”
3. What are English synonyms of “elitist”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “elitist”?
Derived from the French 'élite' (meaning 'chosen' or 'best'), which stems from the Latin 'eligere' (to choose or select). The suffix '-ist' was added in the 20th century to describe a person who believes in or advocates for the dominance of a select group, often implying a sense of superiority.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.