meritocracy
meritocracy Lexical Profile
meritocracy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A social system, organization, or government in which individuals advance and attain power or status based on their demonstrated talent, effort, and achievement rather than wealth or social class.
"The company prides itself on being a true meritocracy where promotions are based strictly on performance."
A ruling or influential class of educated, accomplished people selected on the basis of their perceived ability and merit.
"Critics argued that the new managerial meritocracy had grown out of touch with ordinary working citizens."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although now commonly used as a positive ideal for fair advancement based on ability, the term was originally coined as a satirical warning about a society stratified by intelligence testing and credentialism.
• Rhymes for meritocracy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined by British sociologist Michael Young in his 1958 satirical book 'The Rise of the Meritocracy', combining the Latin root 'meritum' (worth, service) with the Greek suffix '-kratia' (power, rule).