culturati: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Sometimes Ironic
Quick answer
What does “culturati” mean?
People who are highly interested in and knowledgeable about culture, especially the arts and intellectual pursuits.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
People who are highly interested in and knowledgeable about culture, especially the arts and intellectual pursuits.
A collective term for those who actively engage with, support, and often set trends in high culture—such as literature, visual arts, theatre, and classical music. The term sometimes carries a connotation of being part of an exclusive, sophisticated social circle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is broadly similar, though slightly more common in British publications discussing society and the arts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can imply elitism. In American English, it might more frequently be used in contexts related to philanthropy and gallery openings in major cities like New York.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, but marginally higher in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “culturati” in a Sentence
The + culturati + verb (The culturati attend...)Adjective + culturati (local culturati)Preposition + culturati (among the culturati)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing or luxury brand contexts targeting high-end consumers.
Academic
Used in sociology, cultural studies, or art history to discuss patronage and cultural consumption.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound deliberately fancy or sarcastic.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “culturati”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “culturati”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “culturati”
- Misspelling as 'culturatti' (double 't').
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'He is a culturati'); it is strictly plural.
- Confusing it with 'culturalist', which refers to a scholar of culture.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun, referring to a group of people. There is no standard singular form.
Yes, it can be used ironically or critically to describe people perceived as pretentious or overly concerned with appearing cultured.
It is a modern English formation (mid-20th century), modelled on the older word 'literati', which comes from Latin 'litterati' meaning 'the learned'.
You would most likely find it in arts journalism, society columns, literary reviews, or academic texts in cultural studies.
People who are highly interested in and knowledgeable about culture, especially the arts and intellectual pursuits.
Culturati is usually formal, literary, sometimes ironic in register.
Culturati: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkʌltʃəˈrɑːti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkəltʃəˈrɑːti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms for this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CULTURe' + the ending '-ati' from 'literATI'. The 'Culturati' are the 'literati' of all culture.
Conceptual Metaphor
CULTURE IS A REALM, and the CULTURATI are its NOBLES/INHABITANTS.
Practice
Quiz
The term 'culturati' is most closely related in formation and meaning to which other word?