elite
highest-status or most skilled
Very high level and among the best or most powerful of a group.
elite [group/team/unit/school/athlete]
- She trains with an elite group of swimmers who compete at the national level.
- Getting into that elite university is extremely competitive.
- The army sent in an elite unit to handle the rescue operation.
- Only a small, elite team works on the company’s most sensitive projects.
- Parents pay high fees to send their children to elite private schools.
- He is an elite player on the national team.
- She hopes to study at an elite medical school.
- The country used an elite force to end the crisis.
- Only elite students can enter that program.
- They created an elite team to finish the job quickly.
group with most power or skill
A small group of people who have the most money, power, or are the very best at something.
the [political/financial/intellectual] elite; the elite of [a society/field]
- Many voters feel that the political elite are out of touch with everyday life.
- Power is concentrated in the hands of a small business elite.
- He argued that the cultural elite were shaping public taste through the media.
- The global elite meet each year to discuss economic policy.
- She is now seen as part of the intellectual elite in her field.
- Some people think the elite do not understand normal workers.
- The country is led by a small elite.
- Students from rich families often join the social elite.
- He wants to break the power of the political elite.
- She became one of the elite in the fashion world.
- Base: elite
- Base: elite
- Plural: elites
business elite
1most powerful business leaders
The small group of very rich and powerful business people in a country or industry.
- The city’s business elite gathered for the annual finance conference.
- She quickly rose to become part of the global business elite.
- Some worry that the business elite has too much influence on politics.
elite athlete
1top-level sportsperson
A sportsman or sportswoman who is among the very best in their sport, often at national or international level.
- Elite athletes often train for many hours every day.
- The program is designed to support elite athletes preparing for the Olympics.
- Becoming an elite athlete requires great talent and discipline.
elite force
1highly trained special unit
A small group of soldiers or police who have special training to do very difficult or dangerous jobs.
- An elite force was sent to rescue the hostages.
- The government created an elite force to fight terrorism.
- Only the best soldiers are chosen for the elite force.
elite school
1selective high-status school
A very good and often expensive school that is hard to get into and has high social or academic standing.
- Many politicians studied at the same elite schools.
- Parents move to the area so their children can attend elite schools.
- Graduates from elite schools often have strong career networks.
elite university
1top-tier selective university
A very famous and highly respected university that chooses only the best students.
- She received scholarship offers from several elite universities.
- Competition for places at elite universities is intense.
- Many elite universities attract students from all over the world.
intellectual elite
1most influential thinkers and scholars
A small group of writers, teachers, and thinkers who are seen as the most intelligent or important in ideas and culture.
- The magazine is popular among the country’s intellectual elite.
- Members of the intellectual elite often debate these issues at universities.
- He is widely respected as part of the intellectual elite in economics.
political elite
1group with most political power
The small group of people who have the most power in politics and government.
- The political elite met behind closed doors to choose the next leader.
- He blames the political elite for the country’s economic problems.
- Many protest movements are aimed at challenging the political elite.
ruling elite
1elite group that governs
A small powerful group that controls how a country or organization is run.
- The ruling elite resisted any attempt at democratic reform.
- The book explains how the ruling elite kept power for decades.
- Citizens accused the ruling elite of corruption and abuse of power.
the elite
1people with most power or status
The small group of people in a country or area who have the most money, power, or high social position.
- Many young people believe the elite only care about their own interests.
- Taxes on the elite became a major topic in the election campaign.
- The movie shows how far the elite will go to keep control.