[ar.is.toc.ra.cy] n, pl -cies [MF & LL; MF aristocratie, fr. LL aristocratia, fr. Gk aristokratia, fr. aristos best + -kratia -cracy] (1561) 1: government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class
2. a: a government in which power is vested in a minority consisting of those believed to be best qualified b: a state with such a government
3: a governing body or upper class usu. made up of an hereditary nobility
4: the aggregate of those believed to be superior