aristocracy

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class.

   “But when Nietzsche has the incredible lack of humour and lack of imagination to ask us to believe that his aristocracy is an aristocracy of strong muscles or an aristocracy of strong wills, it is necessary to point out the truth. It is an aristocracy of weak nerves.”

   “That, then, which is called aristocracy in some countries and nobility in others arose out of the governments founded upon conquest.”

2. (countable, uncountable)Government by such a class, or a state with such a government.

   “How many false principles have been laid down, how much delusion supported, by reference to the glories of Athens and of Rome! It remained for a later time to observe that those so-called republics were but aristocracy in its most oppressive form; and what are now the people were then positive slaves;...”

3. (countable, uncountable)A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others.