elite

 
Pronunciation: /eɪˈliːt, ɪ-/

noun

  • 1a group of people considered to be superior in a particular society or organization: the country’s educated elite [as modifier]: an elite combat force
  • 2 [mass noun] a size of letter in typewriting, with 12 characters to the inch (about 4.7 to the centimetre).

Origin:

late 18th century: from French élite 'selection, choice', from élire 'to elect', from a variant of Latin eligere (see elect). elite (sense 2) dates from the early 20th century

Spelling help

Elite can also be spelled élite, with an accent on the e (as in the original French).