elitism

[ ih-lee-tiz-uhm, ey-lee- ]

noun

1. practice of or belief in rule by an elite.
2. consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group.

elitism

/ ɪˈliːtɪzəm; eɪ- /

noun

1. 1. the belief that society should be governed by a select group of gifted and highly educated individuals
   2. such government
2. pride in or awareness of being one of an elite group

Derived Forms

• eˈlitist, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• e·litist noun adjective
• anti·e·litism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elitism¹

First recorded in 1950–55; elite + -ism

Example Sentences

"There is an atmosphere at the university of elitism," Shanley added.

From BBC

Some say the elitism of the Democrats is equally obvious; they won’t accept the fact that most Americans won’t accept a woman – and especially a woman of color as president.

From Salon

And what these elite, boutique shops don’t necessarily realize is that they’re turning wellness into a luxury for the elite and those who replicate elitism for clout.

From Los Angeles Times

"Trump's economic approach has much more in common with founders era political economy because of shared protectionism and elitism," Rao said.

From Salon

But there’s an inherent danger, particularly in a party criticized for elitism, in giving too much ground to big-name actors or musicians who may not exactly scream “salt of the earth.”

From Los Angeles Times