Elite — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /i-ˈlēt/

Meaning & Definition of Elite

Elite (noun)

  1. the choice part, cream
  2. the best of a class
  3. the socially superior part of society

Elite (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, serving, or being part of an elite; often, superior in quality, rank, skill, etc.

Elite (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in exclusive

    similar: exclusive, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, classic, excellent, fabulous, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, noble, outstanding, par excellence, premium, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, transcendent, unsurpassed, wonderful, bijou, jewellike, ultrarare, choice, dainty, delicate, elegant, exquisite, fine, rare, recherché, select
    opposite: coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, tasteless, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar, commercial, mass-produced, popular, common, ordinary, average, lesser, mediocre, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-class, second-rate, deficient, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

Elite (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class

    "the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools"

    similar: A-list, aristocracy, best, choice, corps d'elite, cream, crème de la crème, elect, fat, flower, illuminati, pick, pink, pride, priesthood, prime, royalty, upper crust, cream of the crop, Hall of Fame
    related: establishment, gentry, nobility, quality, society, top, top drawer, upper class, caviar, who's who
    near: commoners, herd, hoi polloi, masses, millions, mob, multitude, rank and file, unwashed

  2. the highest class in a society

    "the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth"

    similar: aristocracy, gentility, gentlefolk, gentry, nobility, patriciate, quality, upper class, upper crust
    related: A-list, beau monde, beautiful people, café society, Four Hundred, glitterati, haut monde, jet set, society, carriage trade, plutocracy
    opposite: proletarians, proletariat
    near: commoners, (the) crowd, (the) masses, peasantry, peonage, (the) people, plebeians, plebs, (the) populace, (the) public, rank and file, bourgeoisie, middle class, working class, dregs, (the) herd, (the) mob, rabble, rabblement, riffraff, scum, trash

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Elite

The most common words with a similar meaning to Elite:

exclusive, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, classic, excellent, fabulous, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, noble, outstanding, par excellence, premium, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, transcendent, unsurpassed, wonderful, bijou, jewellike, ultrarare, choice, dainty, delicate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Elite

Words with the opposite meaning of Elite:

coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, tasteless, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar, commercial, mass-produced, popular, common, ordinary, average, lesser, mediocre, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-class, second-rate, deficient, inferior, low-grade, substandard

Related Words for Elite

establishment, society, top drawer, caviar, who's who, beau monde, beautiful people, café society, Four Hundred, glitterati, haut monde, jet set, carriage trade, plutocracy

Near Antonyms of Elite

commoners, herd, hoi polloi, masses, millions, mob, multitude, rank and file, unwashed, (the) crowd, (the) masses, peasantry, peonage, (the) people, plebeians, plebs, (the) populace, (the) public, bourgeoisie, middle class, working class, dregs, (the) herd, (the) mob, rabble, rabblement, riffraff, scum, trash

Origin & Etymology of Elite

French élite, from Old French eslite, from feminine of eslit, past participle of eslire to choose, from Latin eligere

First known use: 1738

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Elite

Words & Phrases Containing Elite

anti-elite, non-elite

Frequently Asked Questions about Elite

What does "Elite" mean?

"Elite" means the choice part, cream. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: the choice part, cream. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Elite"?

Other words for "Elite" include exclusive, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, classic and excellent. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Elite" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Elite"?

There are 85 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Elite". Common alternatives include exclusive, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, classic, excellent, fabulous and first-class.

What is the opposite of "Elite"?

Antonyms of "Elite" include coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough and rough-hewn. Near antonyms include commoners, herd, hoi polloi and masses.

How do you use "Elite" in a sentence?

Examples of "Elite" in a sentence: "the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools"; "the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth".

Is "Elite" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Elite" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Elite" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Elite" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Elite"?

"Elite" is pronounced /i-ˈlēt/.