upper crust

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ˈup•per ˈcrust, n. [countable* usually singular;
usually: the + ~]

1. Informal Terms the highest social class.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

up′per crust′, 

1. the topmost layer of crust, as of a pie.
2. Informal Terms the highest social class.
• 1425–75; 1830–35 for def. 2; late Middle English
up′per-crust′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

upper crust noun

1. the upper class