elite

B2 Topic:People & Society

US /ɪˈlit/ UK /ɪˈliːt/ See IPA manual

Freq #6468

Meanings

1

noun
The richest, most powerful, or most talented people in a society or group.

Only a small elite could afford to attend the private school.
2

adj
Belonging to the best or most select of a group.

He trained for years to join an elite military unit.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the richest, most powerful,... elite group

2 adj · belonging to the best or... elect

Word family

Forms elites

Derived forms anti-eliteantielitecounterelitecybereliteelitarianelitedomelitenesseliticideelitocracynonelitesubelitesuperelite

Related forms elect elegant eligibleelitismelitist select selection

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

elite group
a small group distinguished by high status, ability, or privilege

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Elite, recorded in English from the late 18th century, ultimately derives from Latin eligere “to choose or select.” It belongs to the same word family as elect, eligible, and elegant.

Etymology

From Middle English elit, from Old French elit, eslit (“chosen, elected”) past participle of elire, eslire (“to choose, elect”), from Latin eligere (“to choose, elect”), with past participle electus; see elect.

*leǵ- Proto-Indo-European elit Middle English eligere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society

External links

# elite

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪˈlit/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪˈliːt/
**Frequency rank:** 6468

## Meanings
1. The richest, most powerful, or most talented people in a society or group.
2. Belonging to the best or most select of a group.

## Examples
- Only a small elite could afford to attend the private school.
- He trained for years to join an elite military unit.

## Derived Forms
- anti-elite
- antielite
- counterelite
- cyberelite
- elitarian
- elitedom
- eliteness
- eliticide
- elitocracy
- nonelite
- subelite
- superelite

## Related Forms
- elect
- elegant
- eligible
- elitism
- elitist
- select
- selection

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *leǵ-
- Root: elit
- Root: eligere

## Etymology
From Middle English elit, from Old French elit, eslit (“chosen, elected”) past participle of elire, eslire (“to choose, elect”), from Latin eligere (“to choose, elect”), with past participle electus; see elect.

## AI Etymology
Elite comes from Middle English elit, from Old French elit, eslit (“chosen, elected”) past participle of elire, eslire (“to choose, elect”), from Latin eligere (“to choose, elect”), with past participle electus; see elect. In current use, the main senses are “The richest, most powerful, or most talented people in a society or group” and “Belonging to the best or most select of a group”.

## Topics
- People & Society

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