: one who has the bearing and viewpoint typical of the aristocracy
b
: one who favors aristocracy
3
: one believed to be superior of its kind
the aristocrat of Southern resortsSouthern Living
Did you know?
Since aristos means "best" in Greek, ancient Greeks such as Plato and Aristotle used the word aristocracy to mean a system of rule by the best people—that is, those who deserved to rule because of their intelligence and moral excellence. But this kind of "best" soon became something you could inherit from your parents. The United States has no formal aristocracy—no noble titles such as baron or marquis that stay in the family—but certain American families have achieved an almost aristocratic status because of the wealth they've held onto for generations.
could trace his lineage to an English aristocrat of the 17th century
Recent Examples on the WebOne of the most stunning artifacts Allen and his team have found so far is a 5-foot, 9-inch long gold chain that weighs almost 2 full pounds that was likely intended for a wealthy aristocrat or even royalty. Bill Springer, Forbes, 31 July 2022 Set in 2069, the daring fantasy film revolves around the youth memories of a dying Portuguese aristocrat who dreamed of becoming a firefighter and unexpectedly fell in love with his instructor. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 July 2022 As a refined aristocrat, Roosevelt wasn’t inclined to drive his point home with muscular heft, but there have been communitarians who’ve done so, the prime example being President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Bill Donahue, Washington Post, 20 June 2022 Tocqueville swore an oath to the new king, but in the aftermath of the 1830 Revolution, France was no place for a young aristocrat of known political ambitions and unknown loyalties. Barton Swaim, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022 Corlys is a pirate-explorer-general-aristocrat, like if Blackbeard was also Francis Drake plus Lord Nelson times Odysseus. Darren Franich, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022 Born in 1761, Elizabeth Dido Belle, daughter of Black enslaved woman Maria Belle and Captain Sir John Lindsay, is regarded as England’s first Black aristocrat. Nylah Burton, refinery29.com, 16 Aug. 2022 The adventure begins when Anya (Anastasia), played by Kyla Stone, enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2022 Created by Neil Gaiman, Johanna Constantine is an 18th century aristocrat and adventurer who is an ancestor of John Constantine. Milan Polk, Men's Health, 6 Aug. 2022 See More