elitism
Rule by "betters"
Elitism is the belief that society should be led by a select group of superior individuals, or the sense of entitlement that comes from belonging to such a group.
The word is almost always pejorative—accusing someone of elitism suggests they look down on ordinary people or favor the privileged few: The candidate was accused of coastal elitism.
Elitist works as both noun and adjective: an elitist attitude, Silicon Valley elitists.
Pretentious social superiority
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- disdainScornful disregard
arrogance · pomposity · pretentiousness · smugness · self-importance · patronizing · contempt · derision
Division into distinct levels
- casteInherited social division
- rankingOrdered position assignment
- tieredHaving multiple levels
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
classism · socioeconomic · feudalism · aristocracy · oligarchy · plutocracy · nobility · patrician
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
- classismPrejudice by economic rank
- snobbismAttitude of social superiority
exclusion · marginalization · othering · stereotyping · gatekeeping · lookism · credentialism
Controlling access to something
- members-onlyRestricted to enrolled participants
- VIPNotable, for short
- cliqueExclusive social group
- insularNarrow in outlook
exclusionary · private · restricted · inaccessible · closed-door · ivory-tower · in-crowd · credentialism
Advancement through demonstrated ability
- technocracyGovernance by technical experts
- intellectualismEmphasis on reasoning pursuits
- credentialismOvervaluing formal qualifications
- exceptionalismBelief in unique superiority
paternalism · antidemocratic · guardianship · philosopher-king
Assumed right to benefits
- affluenceAbundance of money
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- finishing-schoolInstitution teaching refined manners
cotillion · debutante · blue-blood · well-connected · advantaged · favoritism · cronyism
snobbery
Pretentious social superiority
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
disdain · arrogance · pomposity · pretentiousness · smugness · self-importance · patronizing · contempt · derision · snobbishness
stratification
Division into distinct levels
inequality · classism · socioeconomic · feudalism · aristocracy · oligarchy · plutocracy · nobility · patrician · bourgeoisie
prejudice
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
- classismPrejudice by economic rank
snobbism · exclusion · marginalization · othering · stereotyping · gatekeeping · lookism · credentialism
gatekeeping
Controlling access to something
- members-onlyRestricted to enrolled participants
- VIPNotable, for short
- cliqueExclusive social group
insular · exclusionary · private · restricted · inaccessible · closed-door · ivory-tower · in-crowd · credentialism · pedigree
meritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
- technocracyGovernance by technical experts
- intellectualismEmphasis on reasoning pursuits
- credentialismOvervaluing formal qualifications
exceptionalism · paternalism · antidemocratic · guardianship · philosopher-king
entitlement
Assumed right to benefits
- affluenceAbundance of money
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
finishing-school · cotillion · debutante · blue-blood · well-connected · advantaged · favoritism · cronyism
- gamingvideo games, buff, games, PlayStation 4, gameplay
- contemptcontempt, scorn, disdain, despise, derision
- ego displaysarrogance, vanity, boasting, showboating, braggadocio
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- snobberysnob, snobbery, snooty, snoot, snootiness
- social attitudesracism, sexism, ageism, xenophobia, homophobia
elitismegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
populism · democracy · equalitarianism · socialism · classlessness
elitisminclusivity
Practice of welcoming all
inclusiveness · openness · accessibility · democratization · universalism
elitismpopulism
Politics favoring ordinary citizens
folksiness · anti-intellectualism · common touch · down-to-earth · unpretentiousness
- elitist attitudeSense of inherent superiority