1
a
singular or plural in construction
: the choice part : cream
the elite of the entertainment world
b
singular or plural in construction
: the best of a class
… superachievers who dominate the computer elite …—
Marilyn Chase
Marilyn Chase
c
singular or plural in construction
: the socially superior part of society
… how the French-speaking elite … was changing …—Economist
Economist
d
: a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence
members of the ruling elite
e
: a member of such an elite
—usually used in plural
The elites …, pursuing their studies in Europe …—Robert Wernick
Robert Wernick2
: a typewriter type providing 12 characters to the linear inch
Examples of elite in a Sentence
the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools
the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth
Recent Examples on the Web
His populist policies won strong support among poorer voters, particularly in the rural north and northeast, but his popularity and sometimes high-handed style created deep fractures between his base and the country’s urban elites, royalists and the military.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Nobel laureates Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson argue that when wealth is concentrated at the top, elites become willing to back undemocratic candidates to protect their assets from redistribution.
—Sarita Gupta, Time, 2 June 2026
The demonization of minorities was nothing new, of course, but New York in the Seventies birthed a reactionary movement that was supported by politicians, public intellectuals, elites, and working people alike.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
The party has used the Epstein revelations to bolster its argument that Norway’s political elites are essentially corrupt.
—Ola Morris Innset, The Dial, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for elite
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ABC News, 3 June 2026
Nobel laureates Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson argue that when wealth is concentrated at the top, elites become willing to back undemocratic candidates to protect their assets from redistribution.
—Sarita Gupta, Time, 2 June 2026
The demonization of minorities was nothing new, of course, but New York in the Seventies birthed a reactionary movement that was supported by politicians, public intellectuals, elites, and working people alike.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
The party has used the Epstein revelations to bolster its argument that Norway’s political elites are essentially corrupt.
—Ola Morris Innset, The Dial, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for elite
Cite this Entry
“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elite. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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