aristocrats
High-born social elite
Aristocrats are members of the highest social class, typically holding hereditary titles and historically wielding political power through land ownership and lineage.
The term can describe actual nobility—dukes, earls, and other aristocrats attended the coronation—or anyone perceived as elite or privileged: the aristocrats of Silicon Valley.
The word often carries connotations of wealth, refinement, and social distance from ordinary people.
Highest-ranking nobleman
- duchessWoman of ducal rank
- countessFeminine noble rank
- baronLow-ranking peer
- viscountMid-ranking British noble
marquess · earl · lord · lady · peerage · heraldry · chivalry · knighthood
Having rightful claim
- exemptNot subject to
- perquisitesEmployment fringe benefits
- pamperedLavished with indulgence
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
immunity · leisured · highborn · advantaged · nepotism · dispensation · grandee · sinecure
Supporter's financial backing
- statesmanRespected political leader
- oligarchMember of small ruling class
- philanthropistDonor to charitable causes
- regentInterim throne holder
chancellor · influential · kingmaker · political · landowning class · ruling class · feudal lord · vassal
Inherited cultural legacy
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- ancestryFamily line of descent
forebears · progenitors · genealogy · descent · scions · inheritance · primogeniture · birthright
Reputation commanding admiration
- exclusivityState of being limited
- refinementElegance of manner
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- bluebloodsHereditary upper class
upper-crust · cultivated · polished · gentility · socialites · old money · finishing school · debutante
duke
Highest-ranking nobleman
viscount · marquess · earl · lord · lady · peerage · heraldry · chivalry · knighthood · courtier
entitled
Having rightful claim
- exemptNot subject to
- perquisitesEmployment fringe benefits
- pamperedLavished with indulgence
favoritism · immunity · leisured · highborn · advantaged · nepotism · dispensation · grandee · sinecure · landed gentry
patronage
Supporter's financial backing
- statesmanRespected political leader
- oligarchMember of small ruling class
- philanthropistDonor to charitable causes
regent · chancellor · influential · kingmaker · political · landowning class · ruling class · feudal lord · vassal · dominion
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
ancestry · forebears · progenitors · genealogy · descent · scions · inheritance · primogeniture · birthright · ancestral home
prestige
Reputation commanding admiration
- exclusivityState of being limited
- refinementElegance of manner
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
bluebloods · upper-crust · cultivated · polished · gentility · socialites · old money · finishing school · debutante · cotillion
affluent
Having abundant financial resources
- opulentOstentatiously wealthy
- prosperousEnjoying wealth and success
- moneyedHaving substantial wealth
landowner · rentier · estate · chateau · palace · manor house · holdings · fortune · endowment · trust fund
- Roman elitepatrician, senator, consul, noble family, noble house
- Prussian FiguresClausewitz, generals, kings, ministers, nobles
- royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, kings
- eliteelite, elites, nobility, best, finest
- eliteselites, plutocrats, oligarchs, blue bloods, old money
- high societygossip, socialites, socialite, debutante, debutantes
aristocratscommoners
Ordinary citizens, untitled
peasants · plebeians · plebs · serfs · common people
- British aristocracyEngland's hereditary upper class
- French aristocratTitled member of ancien régime
- landed aristocracyNobles whose wealth derives from estates
- aristocratic familyLineage of hereditary rank
- French aristocracyTitled upper class
- English aristocracyHereditary ruling class