The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word HIGH-HAT
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
H
I
G
H
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H
A
T
More clues leading to the result HIGH-HAT
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "aristocrat" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case aristocrat = high-hat.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HIGH-HAT mean?
HIGH-HAT noun- A person claiming to be superior.
- To snub or treat condescendingly.
- Disdainful; haughty