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Glite Dictionary
👥 Not privileged 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Ordinary people
non-elite

non-elite

4.6
A person who is not part of the top or most powerful group
  • noun
  • /nɒn-ɪˈliːt/
translation icon : no élite
  • The non-elite often struggle to make their voices heard.

Examples

  • Many politicians promise to represent the interests of the non-elite during elections.

  • Social changes often begin with movements among the non-elite in society.

  • The new education program aims to support the non-elite in gaining better opportunities.

  • Many non-elites feel excluded from political discussions.

  • The new education program aims to support the non-elite in gaining better opportunities.

  • Many politicians promise to represent the interests of the non-elite during elections.

  • Social changes often begin with movements among the non-elite in society.

Synonyms

common person
vsnon-elite
1 1.4

A person who has no title and is an ordinary member of society

is broader, meaning not part of the top social, economic, or political groups
nonaristocratic
vsnon-elite
5.9

A person who is not from the rich upper class

is broader, covering lack of membership in upper social, political, or economic circles
nonnoble
vsnon-elite
7.4

A person from an ordinary family who is not part of the noble class

is broader, applying to those outside the top social, economic, and political groups

Antonyms

elite
258 4.7

A small group of the most powerful or rich people in a society

How Elite

elite
258 4.7
privileged
123 4.8
non-elite
4.6
Joe Average
  • Informal
1 5.2
commoner
31 4.2

Surface Forms

non-elite singular
non-elites plural

Morphology

non-elite = elite (transparent) = non + elite

The meaning is a simple negation of the noun 'elite' using the productive prefix 'non-', yielding 'people who are not elite'.

Etymology

Non-elite comes from non- 'not' plus elite, which comes from a word for 'the chosen' and is the same root as elect. So a non-elite is someone who is 'not chosen' for the top group, an ordinary person or part of the majority.