I. e ‧ lite 1 /eɪˈliːt, ɪ-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: French ; Origin: past participle of élire 'to choose' , from Latin eligere ; ⇨ ↑ elect 1 ]
a group of people who have a lot of power and influence because they have money, knowledge, or special skills
political/social/economic etc elite
the domination of power by a small political elite
a struggle for power within the ruling elite
II. elite 2 BrE AmE adjective
an elite group contains the best, most skilled or most experienced people or members of a larger group:
an elite group of artists
elite universities