Rarefied Meaning in English
word
Definition
Used to describe air or gas that is thin and has little oxygen, or, figuratively, something related to an exclusive or elite group that is not easily accessible.
Usage & Nuances
'Rarefied' is formal and often refers to altitude (e.g., rarefied air) or intellectual/social environments (e.g., a rarefied circle of experts). It suggests something distant from everyday experience. Common in academic or literary contexts, not for informal conversation.
Example Sentences
At high altitudes, the air becomes rarefied and hard to breathe.
basic
Only a few people belong to that rarefied group of scientists.
basic
The discussion was in a rarefied academic setting.
basic
She enjoys the rarefied atmosphere of high-level art galleries.
natural
Life in the mountains is tough due to the rarefied air.
natural
He feels out of place in such a rarefied social circle.
natural