aristocracy meaning
For a social class, see Aristocracy (class). Aristocracy (Greek á¼ÏÎ¹ÏÏÎ¿ÎºÏÎ±ÏÎ¯Î± aristokratÃ­a, from á¼ÏÎ¹ÏÏÎ¿Ï aristos excellent, and ÎºÏÎ¬ÏÎ¿Ï kratos power) is a form of government that places power in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning rule of the best.