Definition
A class of people holding exceptional rank and privileges, typically hereditary nobility. Also refers to a form of government ruled by such a class or by a small privileged group.
Etymology
From Greek 'aristokratia' meaning 'rule of the best,' from 'aristos' (best) + 'kratia' (rule or power). Originally meant government by the most qualified, though it came to mean rule by hereditary nobility.
Kelly Says
Remember 'ARISTO-CRACY' = 'Rule by the BEST' (aristos)! Originally, aristocrats were supposed to be the 'best' people to rule. Think Aristotle - his name also contains 'aristos' meaning excellence or virtue.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አሪስቶክራሲ
arīstōkrasī
ARالعربية
أرستقراطية
ʾaristuqrāṭīyah
BNবাংলা
অভিজাততন্ত্র
ōbhijātōtrō
CACatalà
aristocràcia
ɑɾistɔˈkɾasiə
CSČeština
aristokracie
aristɔkratsɪjɛ
DADansk
aristokrati
ɑʁɪsˈtoʊ̯kʁɑˀti
DEDeutsch
Aristokratie
aʁɪsˈtoːkʁaˈtiː
ELΕλληνικά
αριστοκρατία
aristokratiá
ESEspañol
aristocracia
aɾistɔˈkɾaθja
FAفارسی
ارستوکراسی
āristūkrāsī
FISuomi
aristokratia
ɑristɔˈkʁɑtiɑ
FRFrançais
aristocratie
aʁistɔkʁasi
GUGU
અરિસ્ટોક્રસી
aristōkrasī
HAHA
aristokrasi
aristɔkrasi
HEעברית
אריסטוקרטיה
aristokratiyah
HIहिन्दी
अरिस्टोक्रेसी
aristokresī
HUMagyar
aristokrácia
ɒristoːkraːt͡sijɒ
IDBahasa Indonesia
aristokrasi
aristɔkrasi
IGIG
aristokrasi
aristɔkrasi
ITItaliano
aristocrazia
aristɔˈkrat͡sja
KKKK
аристократия
aristokratïya
MRMR
अरिस्टोक्रसी
aristōkrasī
MSBahasa Melayu
aristokrasi
aristɔkrasi
MYမြန်မာ
အာရိစ္စတိုကရေစီ
ʔàɾìθoʊʔkəɹèisi
NLNederlands
aristocratie
aːrɪsˈtoːkraːti
NONorsk
aristokrati
ɑʁɪsˈtoːkʁɑti
PAPA
ਅਰਿਸਟੋਕਰਸੀ
aristōkarasī
PLPolski
arystokracja
arɨstɔˈkraʈ͡sja
PTPortuguês
aristocracia
ɐʁistɔˈkɾɐsiɐ
RORomână
aristocrație
aristokrɑt͡sije
RUРусский
аристократия
aristokratija
SVSvenska
aristokrati
aʁɪsˈtoːkʁaːtɪ
SWKiswahili
aristokrasia
ɑristɔkrɑsɪɑ
TAதமிழ்
அரிஸ்டாக்ரசி
arittākraci
TEతెలుగు
అరిస్టాక్రసీ
aristākrasī
TLTL
aristokrasya
ɑristɔkɾɑsʲɑ
TRTürkçe
soyluluk
soyluluk
UKУкраїнська
аристократія
arystokratija
URاردو
ارستوکریسی
aristokresī
VITiếng Việt
quý tộc
kwī tɔ́c
YOYO
aristokrasi
aristɔkrasi
ZUZU
aristokrasi
aristɔkrasi
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Aristocratic systems excluded women from property, governance, and inheritance rights despite their roles as landholders and political advisors. Titles and estates passed through patrilineal lines, systematically erasing women's contributions.
Inclusive Usage
Use descriptively; acknowledge women's historical exclusion and agency when discussing aristocratic structures.
Empowerment Note
Women like Eleanor of Aquitaine, Cleopatra, and Catherine the Great wielded significant political power despite legal frameworks designed to exclude them.