# elite

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪˈliːt/ · frequency rank #3,622

## Definitions
1. Of high birth or social position; aristocratic or patrician.
2. Representing the choicest or most select of a group.

## Etymology
From Middle English elit, from Old French elit, eslit (“chosen, elected”) past participle of elire, eslire (“to choose, elect”), from Latin eligere (“to choose, elect”), with past participle electus; see elect.

## Easily confused with
- **else** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-else)
- **exit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-exit)
- **emit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-emit)
- **Evie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-evie)
- **exile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-exile)
- **Ellie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-ellie)
- **Eliza** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-eliza)
- **Elsie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-elsie)
- **elude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-elude)
- **excite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-excite)
- **Eloise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elite-vs-eloise)
- **Eli** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eli-vs-elite)
- **ele** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ele-vs-elite)
- **edit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/edit-vs-elite)
- **Edie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/edie-vs-elite)
- **Eine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eine-vs-elite)
- **Elie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elie-vs-elite)
- **Edith** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/edith-vs-elite)
- **edits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/edits-vs-elite)
- **Elias** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elias-vs-elite)

## Common misspellings (6)
`eilte`, `eliet`, `elitte`, `ellite`, `eltie`, `leite`

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