aristocracy
aristocracy — noun
1. people from noble families, often with inherited titles and land, who belong to
people from noble families, often with inherited titles and land, who belong to the highest social level in a country
The old palace once belonged to a family from the French aristocracy.
pattern: family from the aristocracy
Many villages paid taxes to the local aristocracy for centuries.
historical context: local aristocracy
At the museum, children learned how the Russian aristocracy lived.
Writers often mocked the lazy habits of the English aristocracy.
The duke's daughter was raised among the British aristocracy.
- nobility
the closest word, often stressing official noble rank and titles
- upper class
broader and more modern, and may include rich families without noble titles
- elite
much broader, covering top groups in business, culture, or politics
- ruling class
stresses political control rather than noble birth
文法句型
the aristocracy
members of the aristocracy
the landed aristocracy
用法筆記
Usually appears with the and often names a country's noble group, as in the French aristocracy or the British aristocracy. It commonly refers to inherited rank or title, not simply to people who are rich.