1. the highest class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary titles or offices: "the ancient Polish aristocracy had hereditary right to elect the king"
▪ a form of government in which power is held by the nobility.
▪ a state governed by the aristocracy.
▪ a group regarded as privileged or superior in a particular sphere:"high-level technocrats make up a large part of this “technical aristocracy.”"
Word Originlate 15th century: from Old French aristocratie, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos ‘best’ + -kratia ‘power’. The term originally denoted the government of a state by its best citizens, later by the rich and well born, hence the sense ‘nobility’, regardless of the form of government (mid 17th century).
