cognoscenti
Those who know
The cognoscenti are people with superior knowledge or refined taste in a particular field—those who truly understand something that escapes casual observers.
The word implies insider expertise: The cognoscenti knew the restaurant had declined long before the reviews caught on.
Often used with mild irony to suggest snobbery or exclusivity.
Expert judges of quality
- aficionadosArdent, knowledgeable enthusiasts
- authoritiesThose holding official control
- specialistsFocused field authorities
- mavensTrusted subject authorities
savants · pundits · virtuosos · masters · gourmets · sommeliers · critics · curators
Ardent, knowledgeable enthusiasts
- enthusiastsPeople deeply into something
- devoteesPassionate adherents
- admirersPeople who appreciate someone
- buffsKeen hobbyist followers
collectors · fanciers · appreciators · purists · amateurs · hobbyists · mavens · savants
Rule by hereditary elite
- intelligentsiaEducated, intellectual class
- literatiEducated, cultured class
- glitteratiFashionable wealthy celebrities
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
insiders · tastemakers · avant-garde · sophisticates · privileged · select · exclusive · refined
Superior select group
- insidersThose with special access
- in-crowdFashionable exclusive group
- intelligentsiaEducated, intellectual class
- literatiEducated, cultured class
glitterati · avant-garde · vanguard · initiated · privileged · establishment · salon · coterie
Extensive scholarly knowledge
- expertiseSkill from extensive practice
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- connoisseurshipRefined evaluative expertise
- cultivationFostering growth through care
sophistication · acumen · insight · discrimination · taste · judgment · appreciation · understanding
connoisseurs
Expert judges of quality
- aficionadosArdent, knowledgeable enthusiasts
- authoritiesThose holding official control
- specialistsFocused field authorities
mavens · savants · pundits · virtuosos · masters · gourmets · sommeliers · critics · curators · aesthetes
aficionados
Ardent, knowledgeable enthusiasts
- enthusiastsPeople deeply into something
- devoteesPassionate adherents
- admirersPeople who appreciate someone
buffs · collectors · fanciers · appreciators · purists · amateurs · hobbyists · mavens · savants · authorities
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
- intelligentsiaEducated, intellectual class
- literatiEducated, cultured class
- glitteratiFashionable wealthy celebrities
establishment · insiders · tastemakers · avant-garde · sophisticates · privileged · select · exclusive · refined · cultivated
elite
Superior select group
- insidersThose with special access
- in-crowdFashionable exclusive group
- intelligentsiaEducated, intellectual class
literati · glitterati · avant-garde · vanguard · initiated · privileged · establishment · salon · coterie · clique
erudition
Extensive scholarly knowledge
- expertiseSkill from extensive practice
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- connoisseurshipRefined evaluative expertise
cultivation · sophistication · acumen · insight · discrimination · taste · judgment · appreciation · understanding · sensibility
- groupsteam, teams, group, club, clubs
- borrowed wordschic, naive, passe, avant-garde, faux
- expertsexperts, expert, specialist, masters, specialists
- intelligentsiaintellectuals, professors, intelligentsia, academics, philosophers
- literatiauthor, writer, poet, novelist, essayist
- cafe societysocialites, glitterati, bon vivants, jet setters, debutantes
cognoscentiignoramuses
Profoundly uninformed persons
novices · laypeople · amateurs · neophytes · dilettantes
cognoscentiphilistines
Uncultured, materialistic people
lowbrows · barbarians · yahoos · boors · vulgarians
cognoscentioutsiders
Those not belonging
the masses · laymen · non-experts · hoi polloi · ordinary people