1
a
singular or plural in construction
: the choice part : cream
the elite of the entertainment world
b
singular or plural in construction
: the best of a class
superachievers who dominate the computer elite—
Marilyn Chase
Marilyn Chase
c
singular or plural in construction
: the socially superior part of society
how the French-speaking elite … was changing—Economist
Economist
d
: a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence
members of the ruling elite
e
: a member of such an elite
—usually used in plural
the elites …, pursuing their studies in Europe—Robert Wernick
Robert Wernick2
: a typewriter type providing 12 characters to the linear inch
: of, relating to, serving, or being part of an elite
seeking to attain elite status
an elite group
an elite institution/school
often
: superior in quality, rank, skill, etc.
an elite performer
an elite athlete
an athlete with elite skills
The elite chess players of today are of no school. They hail from all over the world … —Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov Synonyms
Examples of elite in a Sentence
Noun
the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools
the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth
Recent Examples on the WebAllen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 July 2024
The new animal print of the moment among Milan's fashion elite?
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2024
At 6-foot-6 and 224 pounds with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and elite athleticism that produced an eye-opening 42-inch max vertical leap at this year’s NBA Draft Combine, Johnson fits the mold of the ideal small-ball power forward in today’s NBA.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for elite 
Noun
However stuck in high school-think all this may be, American football culture and of that of urban coastal fashion elites remain at opposite ends of the playing field.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 July 2024
The new animal print of the moment among Milan's fashion elite?
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
Adjective
In interviews and her candidate questionnaire, Bulman said the school district needs to aggressively market itself, including touting how many Broward grads are accepted at M.I.T., Stanford and other elite universities, the way private schools do.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2024
At 6-foot-6 and 224 pounds with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and elite athleticism that produced an eye-opening 42-inch max vertical leap at this year’s NBA Draft Combine, Johnson fits the mold of the ideal small-ball power forward in today’s NBA.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for elite
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elite. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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