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haute

high society; upper class

noun OHT Rare

Usage Note

Haute used as a standalone noun (always la haute) is an informal shorthand for the social elite, equivalent to 'the upper crust'. It appears most naturally in expressions like elle fait partie de la haute. The underlying adjective haut/haute (high) gives many compounds: haute couture, haute cuisine, haut-de-forme.

Examples

"Elle fréquente la haute depuis toujours."

Natural Translation

She has always mixed with high society.

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