# aristocracy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌæɹ.ɪˈstɒk.ɹə.si/ · frequency rank #21,998

## Definitions
1. The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class.
2. Government by such a class, or a state with such a government.
3. A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French aristocratie, from Medieval Latin aristocratia, from Ancient Greek ἀριστοκρατίᾱ (aristokratíā, “the rule of the best“, that is, “the best-born”, “nobility”), from ἄριστος (áristos, “best, noblest”) + -κρατίᾱ (-kratíā), from κράτος (krátos, “power, rule”). By surface analysis, aristo- + -cracy.

## Easily confused with
- **aristocrat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aristocracy-vs-aristocrat)

## Common misspellings (17)
`airstocracy`, `arisotcracy`, `arisstocracy`, `aristcoracy`, `aristocarcy`, `aristoccracy`, `aristocraccy`, `aristocracyy`, `aristocrayc`, `aristocrcay`, `aristocrracy`, `aristorcacy`, `aristtocracy`, `aritsocracy`, `arristocracy`, `arsitocracy`, `raistocracy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/aristocracy