aristocracyar‧is‧toc‧ra‧cy /ˌærəˈstɒkrəsi $ -ˈstɑː-/ noun (plural aristocracies) 
dukes, earls, and other members of the aristocracy the landed aristocracy (=who own a lot of land) → upper class
WORD ORIGINaristocracy
Origin:
1400-1500 French aristocratie, from Late Latin, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos ‘best’ + -kratia ‘-cracy’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Daughters of rich merchants would often marry into the aristocracy.
- The nation's elite sends its children to boarding schools in the tradition of the British aristocracy.
- Governing elites are usually differentiated into military, religious, and commercial aristocracies.
- He dresses conservatively-black shoes and all-the only hint at aristocracy being a tiny monogram on the shirt pocket.
- Her people belonged to the old aristocracy of New York.
- His conception of the aristocracy was an exalted one; so was his conception of empire.
- The aristocracy may not have done as well out of the change as its authors planned.
- Therefore, the monastic reforms should be regarded at least as much in the light of co-operation as of combat between king and aristocracy.
- We just have to hope your aristocracy don't read the Daily Express.
Longman Language Activatorbelonging to the highest class
belonging to the class of people who originally had most of the money and power, especially families that own a lot of land: · Most senior politicians in the UK are from upper-class families.· He spoke with an upper-class accent.
the people who belong to families that own a lot of land, and used to have a lot of power, and have special titles before their names, like 'Lord' or 'Lady' - used especially when you are talking about the past: the aristocracy: · Daughters of rich merchants would often marry into the aristocracy.
having a high position in society that has special, and usually unfair, advantages such as power, money and the best education: · In many countries today only a privileged minority get the chance of going to university.
a small group of rich and powerful people who have special, unfair advantages that other people do not have: · The President has been accused of developing policies in favor of a small elite.· The sort of goods once reserved for the elite are now available to everyone.
British spoken use this about someone who behaves and speaks in a way in which upper-class people usually behave or speak: · Will your posh university friends be coming tonight?posh school/hotel/restaurant etc (=one that is very expensive, that rich people go to): · She went to a posh girls' school in Switzerland.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY dukes, earls, and other members of the aristocracy the landed aristocracy (=who own a lot of land)COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
[countable usually singular] the people in the highest social class, who traditionally have a lot of land, money, and power: dukes, earls, and other members of the aristocracy the landed aristocracy (=who own a lot of land)· They expressed the triumph of legal equality and state authority over the privileges of the landed aristocracy.· This alliance of the monarchs with the army and the landed aristocracy lasted into the twentieth century.· On the one hand they resented the entrenched power of the landed aristocracy.· The traditional governing class with deep roots in the landed aristocracy was gradually displaced as the Third Reich consolidated its position.
· They relied heavily on the readiness of the local aristocracy and gentry to go along with them.· In the fifth century the popes embarked, in alliance with the local aristocracy, on a programme of urban renewal.· Thus reform could involve a clash with the vested interests of local aristocracies.· It felt as though the whole local aristocracy was towering over him.· The reality was the allegiance to Rome of the local aristocracies which in turn conditioned the behaviour of their clients and followers.· With rare exceptions, they were nominated essentially by the local aristocracy, particularly by the Duke of Newcastle.
· The old Lombard aristocracy was gradually crumbling away except in the far north and the distant south.· Her people belonged to the old aristocracy of New York.
VERB· Here too wealth and power were concentrated in the hands of the magistracy, the clergy and the landed aristocracy.· They bought their way into the landed aristocracy.
dukes, earls, and other members of the aristocracy the landed aristocracy (=who own a lot of land) → upper class