Elite vs. Expert — What's the Difference?

In political and sociological theory, the elite (French élite, from Latin eligere, to select or to sort out) are a small group of powerful people who hold a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, political power, or skill in a society. Defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, the "elite" are "those people or organizations that are considered the best or most powerful compared to others of a similar type."American sociologist C. Wright Mills states that the power elite members recognize other members' mutual exalted position in society.

An expert is somebody who has a broad and deep competence in terms of knowledge, skill and experience through practice and education in a particular field. Informally, an expert is someone widely recognized as a reliable source of technique or skill whose faculty for judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely is accorded authority and status by peers or the public in a specific well-distinguished domain.

A group or class of persons considered to be superior to others because of their intelligence, social standing, or wealth

A person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject.

A member of such a group

Having, involving, or demonstrating skill in or knowledge of a certain subject.

The best or most skilled members of a group

Extraordinarily capable or knowledgeable.

A size of type on a typewriter, equal to 12 characters per linear inch.

Characteristic of an expert.

Of high birth or social position; aristocratic or patrician.

(obsolete) Proven, experienced, veteran.

Representing the choicest or most select of a group.

A person with extensive knowledge or ability in a given subject.

A special group or social class of people which have a superior intellectual, social or economic status as, the elite of society.

(chess) A player ranking just below master.

Someone who is among the best at a certain task.

Taught by use, practice, or experience, experienced; having facility of operation or performance from practice; knowing and ready from much practice; clever; skillful; as, an expert surgeon; expert in chess or archery.

(typography) A typeface with 12 characters per inch.

An expert or experienced person; one instructed by experience; one who has skill, experience, or extensive knowledge in his calling or in any special branch of learning.

A choice or select body; the flower; as, the élite of society.

A specialist in a particular profession or department of science requiring for its mastery peculiar culture and erudition.

See Army organization, Switzerland.

A sworn appraiser.

A group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status

To experience.

Selected as the best;

A person with special knowledge or ability who performs skillfully

Having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude;