If you talk about the rarefied atmosphere of a place or institution, you are expressing your disapproval of it, because it has a special social or academic status that makes it very different from ordinary life.
[disapproval]
...teachers from the rarefied atmosphere of grammar schools.
...the rarefied atmosphere of the property market in Belgravia, Chelsea and Mayfair.
2. adjective
Rarefied air is air that does not contain much oxygen, for example in mountain areas.
Both animals and people were gasping for breath in the rarefied air.
...living at very high altitudes where the atmosphere is rarefied.
More Synonyms of rarefied
rarefied in British English
(ˈrɛərɪˌfaɪd)
adjective
1.
exalted in nature or character; lofty
a rarefied spiritual existence
2.
current within only a small group; esoteric or exclusive
3.
(of a gas, esp the atmosphere at high altitudes) having a low density; thin
Examples of 'rarefied' in a sentence
rarefied
Now Jo-Beth knew that such human forces had allies on a more rarefied plane of being.
Clive Barker THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW (2001)
It looked like anger to me, in rarefied form, which seemed capable of burning with very little oxygen.
Robert Wilson BLOOD IS DIRT (2001)
On a less rarefied level I also reflected that working abroad would give me the chance to escape from the English class system.
Howatch, Susan ULTIMATE PRIZES (2001)
1 (adjective)
Definition
highly specialized
the rarefied atmosphere of university
Synonyms
exclusive
He is a member of Britain's most exclusive club.
select
a meeting of a very select club
esoteric
She has published several books on pathworking and other esoteric subjects.
cliquish
private
He has had to sell his private plane.
occult
organizations which campaign against paganism and occult practices
clannish
People can be clannish and cruel in their exclusion of others who are `different'.
2 (adjective)
Definition
exalted in character
Synonyms
exalted
I don't think of poetry as an exalted calling, as some poets do.
high
Every one of them is controlled by the families of high officials.
spiritual
noble
Although he was of noble birth he lived as a poor man.
elevated
the magazine's elevated tone
sublime
the sublime beauty of nature
lofty
Amid the chaos, he had lofty aims.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clannish
Definition
(of a group) tending to exclude outsiders
People can be clannish and cruel in their exclusion of others who are `different'.
Synonyms
cliquish,
select,
narrow,
exclusive,
sectarian,
unfriendly,
insular
in the sense of elevated
Definition
(of ideas or pursuits) on a high intellectual or moral level
the magazine's elevated tone
Synonyms
high-minded,
high,
fine,
grand,
noble,
inflated,
dignified,
sublime,
lofty,
high-flown,
pompous,
exalted,
bombastic
in the sense of esoteric
Definition
understood by only a small number of people, esp. because they have special knowledge
She has published several books on pathworking and other esoteric subjects.
Synonyms
obscure,
private,
secret,
hidden,
inner,
mysterious,
mystical,
mystic,
occult,
arcane,
hypermetric,
cryptic,
inscrutable,
abstruse,
recondite,
cabbalistic
Nearby words of
rarefied
rapturous
rara avis
rare
rarefied
rarefy
rarely
raring
Related terms of
rarefied
rarefy
Synonyms of 'rarefied'
rarefied
Explore 'rarefied' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of high
Definition
towards the top of a scale of importance or quality
Every one of them is controlled by the families of high officials.
Synonyms
important,
leading,
ruling,
chief,
powerful,
significant,
distinguished,
prominent,
superior,
influential,
notable,
big-time (informal),
eminent,
major league (informal),
exalted,
consequential,
skookum (Canadian)
in the sense of lofty
Definition
morally admirable
Amid the chaos, he had lofty aims.
Synonyms
noble,
grand,
distinguished,
superior,
imposing,
renowned,
elevated,
majestic,
dignified,
stately,
sublime,
illustrious,
exalted
in the sense of noble
Definition
belonging to a class of people who hold titles and high social rank
Although he was of noble birth he lived as a poor man.
Synonyms
aristocratic,
lordly,
titled,
gentle (archaic),
patrician,
blue-blooded,
highborn (old-fashioned),
grand,
excellent,
splendid,
elevated,
eminent
in the sense of occult
Definition
involving mystical or supernatural phenomena or powers
organizations which campaign against paganism and occult practices