elitist
elitist Lexical Profile
elitist Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, supporting, or characteristic of the belief that a society or system should be led by a privileged, select group, or displaying a sense of superiority over ordinary people.
"Critics argued that the university's steep tuition fees fostered an elitist academic environment."
• noun
A person who believes that a select, privileged group deserves greater influence or authority than the rest of society, or who regards themselves as belonging to such a superior group.
"His opponents portrayed him as a cultural elitist who was out of touch with working-class families."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'elite' is often used positively to describe top-tier skill or excellence (such as 'elite athletes'), 'elitist' is almost always pejorative, implying an arrogant or exclusionary attitude toward ordinary people.
• Rhymes for elitist
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century from 'elite' (borrowed from French 'élite', meaning 'selection' or 'choice', ultimately from Latin 'eligere', 'to choose') combined with the agent suffix '-ist'.