elite
gb/ɪlˈit/ us/ɪlˈit/
B2
English
~ 5200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
highest-status or most skilled
Very high level and among the best or most powerful of a group.
Usage pattern:
elite [group/team/unit/school/athlete]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'most elite' where simple 'elite' is more natural, because 'elite' already means 'among the best' (e.g., saying 'the most elite universities' is possible but often 'elite universities' is enough). Another mistake is using 'very elite'; English speakers more often say 'highly elite' or just 'elite' without an intensifier.
Synonyms
top (More informal; focuses mainly on being the best, without a strong sense of social status.)
|
privileged (Highlights advantages and special treatment rather than pure skill or quality.)
|
exclusive (Emphasizes that only a small, selected group can join or access something.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Describes something common or not special in quality or status.)
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average (Focuses on being typical or middle-level, not very high in skill or status.)
|
low-ranking (Stresses a lower position in an official or social hierarchy.)
Collocations
elite athletes
|elite universities
|elite schools
|elite forces
|elite unit
|elite club
Themes
society
|sports
|education
|military
|core_vocabulary
|business
Examples
- 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.
Learner examples
- 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.
Noun
C1
entity
2
group with most power or skill
A small group of people who have the most money, power, or are the very best at something.
Usage pattern:
the [political/financial/intellectual] elite; the elite of [a society/field]
Common mistake:
Learners are often unsure about count and number agreement. 'The elite' can take a singular or plural verb, but in modern English it is more common to use a plural verb: 'The elite are very powerful.' You can say 'an elite' to talk about one elite group, but you do not normally say 'an elite person'; instead say 'a member of the elite.' The plural 'elites' is used mainly in academic or political writing to talk about different elite groups (e.g., 'political and economic elites').
Synonyms
upper class (Focuses mainly on social and economic position, especially by birth, rather than ability.)
|
ruling class (Stresses control over government and major decisions in society.)
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establishment (Often means the powerful people and institutions that maintain the existing system.)
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the few (Highlights that only a very small number of people belong to this group.)
Antonyms
the masses (Refers to ordinary people as a large group, in contrast to the elite minority.)
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ordinary people (Emphasizes people without special power, wealth, or high status.)
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the public (Means the general population rather than a small, powerful group.)
Collocations
political elite
|ruling elite
|business elite
|intellectual elite
|global elite
|power elite
Themes
society
|politics
|economy
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- 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.
Learner examples
- 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.
Grammar
Dictionary form
elite
IPA
GB/ɪlˈit/
US/ɪlˈit/
Syllables & stress
elite (1 syllable)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: elite
Noun
- Base: elite
- Plural: elites
Word family
Expressions
business elite
1/bˈɪznɪs ɪlˈit/
fixed phrase
most powerful business leaders
The small group of very rich and powerful business people in a country or industry.
Examples
- 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
1/ɪlˈit ˈæθlˌit/
fixed phrase
top-level sportsperson
A sportsman or sportswoman who is among the very best in their sport, often at national or international level.
Examples
- 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
1/ɪlˈit fˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
highly trained special unit
A small group of soldiers or police who have special training to do very difficult or dangerous jobs.
Examples
- 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
1/ɪlˈit skˈul/
fixed phrase
selective high-status school
A very good and often expensive school that is hard to get into and has high social or academic standing.
Examples
- 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
1/ɪlˈit jˌunəvˈɚsəti/
fixed phrase
top-tier selective university
A very famous and highly respected university that chooses only the best students.
Examples
- 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
1/ˌɪntəlˈɛkt͡ʃuəl ɪlˈit/
fixed phrase
most 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.
Examples
- 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
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl ɪlˈit/
fixed phrase
group with most political power
The small group of people who have the most power in politics and government.
Examples
- 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
1/ɹˈulɪŋ ɪlˈit/
fixed phrase
elite group that governs
A small powerful group that controls how a country or organization is run.
Examples
- 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
1/ðə ɪlˈit/
fixed phrase
people 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.
Examples
- 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.