elite

or é·lite

[ ih-leet, ey-leet ]

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the choicest or best of anything considered collectively, especially of a group or class of people:

   The elite of the contemporary art scene were all represented at the gallery.

2. (used with a plural verb)
   1. people of the highest financial or social level of society:

      Only the elite received invites to the event.

   2. a group of people exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group:

      The scandal involved most members of the political party's power elite.

3. a member of a group of people who have a great deal of power, influence, or social capital:

   The elites don't care about ordinary people's problems.

4. a type, widely used in typewriters, that is approximately 10-point in size and has 12 characters to the inch. Compare pica ¹.

adjective

1. representing the choicest or most select; best:

   The program is taught by an elite group of authors.

elite

/ ɪˈliːt; eɪ- /

noun

1. sometimes functioning as plural the most powerful, rich, gifted, or educated members of a group, community, etc
2. Also calledtwelve pitch a typewriter typesize having 12 characters to the inch

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suitable for an elite; exclusive

Other Words From

• an·ti·e·lite noun adjective
• non·e·lite noun
• su·per·e·lite noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elite¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English elit “a person elected to office,” from Middle French e(s)lit, past participle of e(s)lire “to choose”; elect

Word History and Origins

Origin of elite¹

C18: from French, from Old French eslit chosen, from eslire to choose, from Latin ēligere to elect

Example Sentences

Despite these shocking revelations, mainly involving boys from elite British public schools, the Rushton report was not widely circulated.

From BBC

The man in charge of preparing Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Olympics was never an elite athlete.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition around 1,600 private security guards will be on duty at the stadium, and an elite anti-terrorist police unit will protect the visiting Israeli squad.

From BBC

Media reports say that the Russians are training elite guards in the country’s two main cities – the capital Malabo and Bata.

From BBC

There is a real challenger to Etiwanda’s supremacy in Ontario Christian, which picked up two elite freshmen in 6-6 Sydney Douglas and 5-11 Tatianna Griffin to combine with sophomore sensation Kaleena Smith, who averaged 34.9 points as a freshman.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exclusive
• silk-stocking