n.
Pronunciation: i- ˌ lü-m ə - ' nä-t ē
Function: noun plural
Etymology: Italian & New Latin; Italian, from New Latin, from Latin, plural of illuminatus
Date: 1599
1 capitalized : any of various groups claiming special religious enlightenment
2 : persons who are or who claim to be unusually enlightened
3 : ELITE 1D <members of the academic illuminati >