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elitist

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Etymology and origin of the English word elitist

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1938 American Journal of Sociology
Ultimate origin
Latin ēligō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French élite
English elite
English elitist

Pronunciation

  • UK: /ɪˈliːtɪst/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English elite + -ist,[2][3][4][5][6] after elitism.[2] Elite is from French élite (“selection, choice”), from Old French eslite, the feminine past participle of elire (“to pick out, choose”), from Latin ēligō (“to choose”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A supporter of the dominance of an elite in society: 1938, in the American Journal of Sociology.[2] Etymonline has the adjective from 1950 and the noun only by 1961.[3]

Semantic evolution

The word followed elitism, first recorded in 1934.[2] The adjective, relating to or supporting rule by an elite, is recorded from 1943.[2] From 1966 it was also used for the attitude of people who think themselves part of an elite and superior to others: snobbish or condescending.[2][3] Merriam-Webster likewise has the noun for a person who regards himself as one of an elite.[4]

Timeline

  • 1938 – noun, an advocate of rule by an elite.[2]
  • 1943 – adjective, relating to or supporting elitism.[2] Etymonline dates the adjective to 1950.[3]
  • 1966 – adjective, snobbish, believing oneself superior.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A person who believes that a society or system should be led by an elite; a supporter of elitism.[4][2]
  2. A person who is, or considers himself or herself, one of an elite and looks down on others.[4][3]

Adjective

  1. Relating to, characterized by or favouring elitism: an elitist admissions policy.[4][2]
  2. Believing oneself superior to others because one belongs to an elite; snobbish or condescending.[2][3]

Word family

  • antielitist
  • nonelitist

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ Gove, Philip Babcock, ed. (1961), Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam
  6. ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
Cite this entry

“Elitist.” Etymologically, 2 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/en/elitist. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·