elite
ih-LEET
/ɪˈliːt/
A select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.
In sports, it refers to the top-tier professional athletes who compete at the highest international level.
The story behind the word. From the Old French 'élite,' which comes from the Latin 'eligere' (to choose). It literally means 'the chosen ones.' In sports, these are the athletes 'chosen' by their performance to represent the pinnacle of human ability.
Word relationships
- top-tier: Top-tier is more descriptive of a ranking; elite implies a inherent quality of being 'chosen' or 'best'.
- common: Refers to the ordinary or average, rather than the superior.
Commonly confused with
- elect: Elect means chosen by vote; elite means chosen by merit or status.
Word family
- elitism (noun): the belief that a society should be led by an elite
- elitist (adjective): demonstrating a belief in superiority
Collocations
- elite athlete
- elite group
- elite status
- power elite
Example sentences
- "Only elite athletes have the discipline to train six hours a day for years." Athletic performance.
- "The elite of the world's thinkers gathered to discuss the future of the planet." Real citation on excellence.
Memory hook
The 'elite' are the ones who 'eat' the competition for breakfast. Elite = Elected by Excellence.
When not to use
Be careful using it in social contexts, as it can sometimes imply snobbery or unfair privilege.
Fun facts
- The word 'elite' was originally used to describe a choice part of a troop of soldiers.
Explore more words
establishment, plutocracy, supremacy, meritocracy, shortlist, affluent
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.