Elite

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iːt

Alternative forms

• élite

Origin

From Old French elit, eslit ("chosen, elected") past participle of elire, eslire ("to choose, elect"), from Latin eligere ("to choose, elect"); see elect.

Full definition of elite

Adjective

1. Of high birth or social position; aristocratic or patrician.
2. Representing the choicest or most select of a group.
• 2013, Louise Taylor, English talent gets left behind as Premier League keeps importing (in The Guardian, 20 August 2013)http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/19/english-talent-premier-league-importingNot since Coventry in 1992 has a Premier League side kicked off a campaign with an all-English XI but things have reached the point where, of the 61 signings who have cost the elite division's 20 clubs a transfer fee this summer, only 12 have involved Englishmen.

Noun

1. A special group or social class of people which have a superior intellectual, social or economic status as, the elite of society.
• 2012, April 19, Josh Halliday, Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?, "Mujtahidd" has attracted almost 300,000 followers since the end of last year, when he began posting scandalous claims about the Saudi elite. In one tweet, Mujtahidd directly challenged Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd about his political history: "Did you resign or were you forced to resign from your post as head of the diwan office of the council of ministers?"
2. Someone who is among the best at a certain task.
• 1964, "France's Culture Corps," Time, 7 Aug.,Is there a nobler or more disinterested aim than to educate the cadres, the elites of tomorrow?

Derived terms

• global elite
• power elite

Related terms

• elect
• élire
• elitism
• elitist
• l33t
• select
• selection