egalitarianism

American  

[ih-gal-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm] / ɪˌgæl ɪˈtɛər i əˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. belief in the equality of all people, especially in political, social, or economic life.

2. active promotion of this belief.

---

Etymology

Origin of egalitarianism

egalitarian + -ism

Explanation

Egalitarianism is the belief that all people are created equal. Remember the Reverend Martin Luther King? He was a fervent believer in egalitarianism. Egalitarianism is a set of beliefs that generally promote equality for all mankind — regardless of gender, race, religious orientation, etc. An egalitarian is someone who practices egalitarianism, perhaps by promoting laws giving equal protection to women in the workplace or by advocating for illegal immigrants to have the same rights as citizens. The opposite of egalitarianism is elitism, which is the belief that certain people have a right to have their opinions heard more than others.

Related Words

• equality
• freedom
• justice