aristocracy
gb/ˌɛɹəstˈɑkɹəsi/ us/ˌɛɹəstˈɑkɹəsi/
B2
Inglés
~ 6200
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
B2
entity
1
the hereditary noble social class
The group of very high‑status families in a country who have special titles and power that pass from parent to child.
Patrón de uso:
the aristocracy of [a country/region]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse "aristocracy" with "aristocrat". "Aristocracy" is the whole group or class, while an "aristocrat" is one person from that class. Another mistake is using it for any rich person; it usually implies inherited status or traditional elite families, not just wealth.
Sinónimos
nobility (Very close in meaning; focuses directly on people with titles such as duke, count, etc.)
|
the upper class (Broader and more modern; can include rich people without titles, not only old noble families.)
Antónimos
common people (Emphasizes ordinary citizens without noble rank or special privilege.)
Colocaciones
the aristocracy
|hereditary aristocracy
|landed aristocracy
|European aristocracy
|traditional aristocracy
|members of the aristocracy
Temas
society
|history
|politics
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The revolution ended the political power of the aristocracy.
- Many members of the old aristocracy still own large country estates.
- She married into the aristocracy and suddenly found herself moving in very exclusive circles.
- In the nineteenth century, the aristocracy dominated social life in the capital.
- The novel describes the slow decline of the Russian aristocracy.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In the past, the aristocracy had many special rights.
- The British aristocracy includes dukes, earls, and other nobles.
- He was born into the aristocracy and grew up in a large house.
- People from the aristocracy often went to the best schools.
- The king depended on the support of the aristocracy.
Sustantivo
formal
C1
entity
2
a privileged wealthy or powerful elite
A small group of very rich or powerful people who control most things in a country or in one area of life.
Patrón de uso:
an aristocracy of [talent/wealth/business leaders]
Error frecuente:
Learners may think this sense always refers to titled nobles. In modern writing, it can be figurative, referring to any powerful or highly privileged group, even in business or technology, and does not necessarily involve official titles.
Sinónimos
elite (Very close meaning; more general and much more common in modern contexts for powerful or highly skilled groups.)
|
ruling class (Stresses political control and dominance rather than just high status or wealth.)
Antónimos
the masses (Highlights the large number of ordinary people who do not share the wealth or power of the privileged few.)
Colocaciones
business aristocracy
|financial aristocracy
|political aristocracy
|aristocracy of talent
|aristocracy of money
|corporate aristocracy
Temas
society
|business
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The country is effectively run by a small business aristocracy.
- Critics argue that an aristocracy of money has replaced the old hereditary elite.
- He believes in an aristocracy of talent rather than an aristocracy of birth.
- A new technological aristocracy emerged from the early days of the internet boom.
- The reforms were designed to weaken the power of the financial aristocracy.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Some people say the country is controlled by a rich aristocracy.
- An aristocracy of talent means that the best and most able people lead.
- Today, an aristocracy of money can be more powerful than old noble families.
- The political aristocracy often lives far from normal citizens.
- Many voters feel that a small aristocracy makes all the big decisions.
Sustantivo
formal
C1
entity
3
government by a privileged few
A type of government where a few high‑status or noble people, not ordinary citizens, have most of the power.
Patrón de uso:
[a country] is an aristocracy
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "aristocracy" when they mean any government they think is unfair. In political science, it specifically means rule by a privileged minority, often nobles, and it is usually contrasted with systems like democracy or monarchy.
Sinónimos
oligarchy (General term for rule by a few; does not specifically require noble birth, while "aristocracy" often implies nobles or a high-status elite.)
Antónimos
democracy (Contrasts rule by a privileged few with rule by the people or their elected representatives.)
Colocaciones
an aristocracy rather than a democracy
|hereditary aristocracy
|rule by aristocracy
|aristocracy and democracy
|from aristocracy to republic
Temas
politics
|history
|philosophy
|law
Ejemplos
- The philosopher compared monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy as three basic forms of government.
- For centuries, the city‑state functioned as an aristocracy dominated by a few powerful families.
- Reformers sought to replace the old aristocracy with a more representative system.
- The constitution was designed to prevent the country from sliding back into aristocracy.
- In his view, democracy had degenerated into an aristocracy of party leaders.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In an aristocracy, only a small group has real power.
- The country changed from an aristocracy to a democracy.
- Some early states in Europe were aristocracies.
- People protested because they did not want to live under an aristocracy.
- The book explains how an aristocracy is different from a monarchy.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
aristocracy
AFI
GB/ˌɛɹəstˈɑkɹəsi/
US/ˌɛɹəstˈɑkɹəsi/
Sílabas y acento
ar - is - to - cracy (4 sílabas)
Stress on 3rd syllable (to)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: aristocracy
- Plural: aristocracies, aristocracy
Familia de palabras
Forms
aristocracies
noun
Core family
aristocrat
noun
aristocratic
adjective B2
Related words
aristocratically
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
non-aristocratic
adjective
Expresiones
aristocracy of birth
1/ˌɛɹəstˈɑkɹəsi əv bˈɚθ/
fixed phrase
formal
elite based on family origin
A high social class where people have power and respect mainly because of the family they are born into.
Ejemplos
- He rejected the idea of an aristocracy of birth and argued that merit should decide rank.
- The old aristocracy of birth still played an important role at court.
aristocracy of money
1/ˌɛɹəstˈɑkɹəsi əv mˈʌni/
fixed phrase
formal
elite based mainly on wealth
A powerful high class made of people who are very rich, not necessarily from old noble families.
Ejemplos
- The rise of an aristocracy of money challenged the old noble families.
- In many cities, an aristocracy of money has replaced the traditional aristocracy of birth.
aristocracy of talent
1/ˌɛɹəstˈɑkɹəsi əv tˈælənt/
fixed phrase
formal
elite based on talent or ability
A group of people at the top because they are very able or very skilled, not because of money or family.
Ejemplos
- He argued that a modern society should be led by an aristocracy of talent.
- The competition is designed to create an aristocracy of talent, where only the most gifted succeed.
landed aristocracy
1/lˈændɪd ˌɛɹəstˈɑkɹəsi/
fixed phrase
noble class owning much land
The group of noble or very high‑status families who own a lot of land and get money and power from it.
Ejemplos
- In that region, the landed aristocracy controlled both the farms and local politics.
- The reforms broke up the power of the landed aristocracy by redistributing large estates.