Fact check: Does the definition of the word ‘Elite’ only mean status and privileges, and not by the skill/competence level of an individual?

1. Summary of the results

The definition of "elite" is significantly more complex than just status and privileges. Multiple sources consistently indicate that elite status encompasses:

• Skill, competence, and professional excellence ^[1]
• Power and influence across various spheres including politics and culture ^[1]
• Control over or access to significant resources ^[2]
• The ability to be "the best" in specific domains ^[3]
• Strategic capability and operational independence ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• Social Mobility Aspect: While many elites come from privileged backgrounds, there are documented cases of self-made individuals who achieve elite status through skill and competence ^[1]
• Resource Control: Elite status is significantly defined by having "disproportionate control over or access to a resource" and the ability to convert these resources into other forms of capital ^[2]
• Power Networks: The concept of elite status involves complex networks of power and the ability to influence systems independently of formal leadership structures ^[5]
• Historical Context: The concept has historical roots in discussions of groups labeled as "state within a state," suggesting deeper complexity than mere privilege ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement presents a false dichotomy by suggesting that elite status must be either about privileges OR competence. This oversimplification ignores several key factors:

• The definition is actually multi-dimensional, including "the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society" ^[7]
• The question overlooks the interconnected nature of privilege and competence - elite status often involves both, not just one or the other
• Those who benefit from a narrow definition of "elite" (focusing only on privilege) might include:
• Social critics who want to delegitimize elite status
• Those who want to dismiss the actual competencies and capabilities of elite groups
• Those who benefit from portraying elite status as purely inherited rather than earned

The sources consistently show that elite status is a complex combination of privilege, competence, influence, and strategic capability, rather than an either/or scenario.