corps d'elite
noun
ˌkȯr-dā-ˈlēt 
plural corps d'elite ˌkȯr-dā-ˈlēt
or ˌkȯrz-dā-
1
: a body of picked troops
2
: a group of the best people in a category
Synonyms
- A-list
- aristocracy
- best
- choice
- cream
- crème de la crème
- elect
- elite
- fat
- flower
- illuminati
- pick
- pink
- pride
- priesthood
- prime
- royalty
- upper crust
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the atomic bomb developers for the Manhattan Project constituted the corps d'elite of American science
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French corps d'élite
First Known Use
1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1
corps d'elite
noun
as in best
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class the atomic bomb developers for the Manhattan Project constituted the corps d'elite of American science Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- best
- aristocracy
- upper crust
- elite
- crème de la crème
- flower
- cream of the crop
- top
- elect
- priesthood
- cream
- society
- upper class
- prime
- pink
- royalty
- Hall of Fame
- choice
- pride
- fat
- quality
- illuminati
- A-list
- top drawer
- establishment
- pick
- nobility
- gentry
- caviar
- caviare
- who's who
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- masses
- millions
- multitude
- herd
- mob
- commoners
- hoi polloi
- unwashed
- rank and file