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
: of, relating to, serving, or being part of an elite
seeking to attain elite status
an elite group
an elite institution/school
often
: superior in quality, rank, skill, etc.
an elite performer
an elite athlete
an athlete with elite skills
The elite chess players of today are of no school. They hail from all over the world … —Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov Synonyms
Examples of elite in a Sentence
Noun
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
Sefa Secen / Made By History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
In each of those cases, elites were largely responding to, and relying upon, popular protest to both determine and then pursue their governing strategies.
—Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Rory Smith, The Athletic, 18 Dec. 2024
Nonetheless, the combination of a fearsome security apparatus and Assad’s elite network across ethnic and religious lines safeguarded him against the sort of coups that had felled numerous leaders between 1946 and 1970.
—Sefa Secen / Made By History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elite 
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Noun
Yet, his courtship of Sunni elites merely created the illusion that Assad’s regime was inclusive.
—Sefa Secen / Made By History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
In each of those cases, elites were largely responding to, and relying upon, popular protest to both determine and then pursue their governing strategies.
—Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
There is no attempt to solve the financial inequality that has made football as a whole more predictable, or to empower teams in leagues outside the major television markets, or to stop the game’s elite hoarding talent.
—Rory Smith, The Athletic, 18 Dec. 2024
Nonetheless, the combination of a fearsome security apparatus and Assad’s elite network across ethnic and religious lines safeguarded him against the sort of coups that had felled numerous leaders between 1946 and 1970.
—Sefa Secen / Made By History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elite
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Dictionary Entries Near elite
Cite this Entry
“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elite. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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