aristarchy means government by the best people. It carries an Arena rating of 1373, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, aristarchy ranks #334 of 13,219 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #523 of 13,219 for The Improbable, #868 of 13,219 for Most Storied Words, #2,312 of 13,219 for Most Whimsical Words.
Why “aristarchy” is a great word
Aristarchy is government by those deemed the most excellent or virtuous. From Ancient Greek ἄριστος (áristos, "best") + -ἀρχία (-arkhía, "rule"). Unlike aristocracy, which implies a hereditary and privileged caste, or meritocracy, which elevates through measurable talent and achievement, aristarchy proposes a rule based on a subjective, holistic conception of virtue. It is the philosopher-king stepping from Plato's page, the revered sage advising from the hillside, and the unspoken hope in every committee that the wisest voice will prevail; a beautiful theory that founders on the question of who gets to define "best."
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἄριστος (áristos, “best”) + -αρχία (-arkhía, “rule”).
noun
- Government by the best people.“All good and wholesome laws, virtue and truth above all things, and aristarchy, live forever. But woe to tyrants, mobs, aristocracy, anarchy, and toryism […]”
- A body of such rulers.“[A Presbyterian session] is […] a court of monarchs, or aristarchs, who hold their office for life; a limited monarchy […] or, more strictly, an aristarchy of rulers appointed for life, and ruling on the principle of elective aristarchy.”
Words closest in meaning
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