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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

aristocracy

ar-ih-STOK-ruh-see

Aristocracy (noun) means the hereditary upper class of a society, typically holding titles and inherited privilege. Example: “The old aristocracy lost much of its land after the revolution.”

noun
1
The hereditary upper class of a society, typically holding titles and inherited privilege.
"The old aristocracy lost much of its land after the revolution."
"She married into the French aristocracy."
2
Government by a privileged ruling class.
"The country shifted from aristocracy to democracy over two centuries."

How to Use Aristocracy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe hereditary noble class, or rule by that class.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
landed aristocracy the aristocracy of rise of the aristocracy

Word Forms

aristocracies plural

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Test yourself on “aristocracy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The old _____ lost much of its land after the revolution.

Etymology

From Greek aristokratia, "rule of the best," from aristos ("best") + kratos ("power, rule").

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for aristocracy

See all rhymes for aristocracy →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “aristocracy” mean?

The word “aristocracy” means the hereditary upper class of a society, typically holding titles and inherited privilege. In plain terms, the hereditary noble class, or rule by that class.

How do you pronounce “aristocracy”?

“Aristocracy” is pronounced ar-ih-STOK-ruh-see (/ˌɛɹ.ɪˈstɑ.kɹə.si/ in IPA).

How do you use “aristocracy” in a sentence?

Here is “aristocracy” used in a sentence: “The old aristocracy lost much of its land after the revolution.”

What part of speech is “aristocracy”?

“Aristocracy” is a noun.

Where does the word “aristocracy” come from?

The word “aristocracy” comes from Greek. From Greek aristokratia, "rule of the best," from aristos ("best") + kratos ("power, rule").

Is “aristocracy” a common word?

“Aristocracy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “aristocracy” have?

“Aristocracy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the hereditary upper class of a society, typically holding titles and inherited privilege.

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