'aristocracy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aristokratia', where 'aristos' meant 'best' and 'kratos' meant 'rule'.

'aristocracy' passed into Late Latin and Medieval/Modern French as 'aristocratia'/'aristocratie' and then into English (Middle/early modern forms) to become the modern English word 'aristocracy'.

Initially, it meant 'rule by the best', but over time it evolved to refer especially to a privileged hereditary class or the system of government led by such a class.