anti-elitist
|an-ti-e-lit-ist|
/ˌæn.ti ɪˈliː.tɪst/
against the elites
Etymology
'anti-elitist' originates from the prefix 'anti-' and the word 'elitist'. 'Anti-' comes from Greek, specifically the element 'anti' (ἀντί), where 'anti-' meant 'against'. 'Elitist' comes from French 'élitiste', from 'élite'.
'elitist' developed from French 'élite' (meaning 'the chosen, selection'), which itself goes back to Latin 'eligere' ('to choose'). The modern compound 'anti-elitist' formed in English by combining 'anti-' + 'elitist' to mean 'against elites or elitism'.
Initially, elements meant 'against' (anti-) and 'chosen/selected' (elite); over time the compound came to specifically mean 'opposed to elites or elitism' in political and social contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is opposed to elitism or who expresses distrust or hostility toward elites.
Many anti-elitists protested the university's ties to wealthy donors.
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Adjective 1
opposed to elitism or to elites; expressing distrust of or hostility toward social, political, or cultural elites.
Her anti-elitist speeches criticized the concentration of power among a few wealthy families.
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Last updated: 2025/10/15 21:43