/ ˌærɪˈstɒkrəsi; NAmE -ˈstɑːk-/ noun
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] ( pl. -ies ) (in some countries) people born in the highest social class, who have special titles
SYN nobility :
members of the aristocracy
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: from Old French aristocratie , from Greek aristokratia , from aristos best + -kratia power. The term originally denoted the government of a state by its best citizens, later by the rich and well born, hence the sense nobility , regardless of the form of government (mid 17th cent.).