meritocratic

American  

[mer-i-tuh-krat-ik] / ˌmɛr ɪ təˈkræt ɪk /

adjective

1. based on ability and talent rather than class, privilege, or wealth.

   The prime minister has vowed to create a truly meritocratic country, where everyone will have a fair chance in life.

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Etymology

Origin of meritocratic

First recorded in 1955–60; meritocrat ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

meritocratic

“I think the reason why there’s such a big community around it is because it’s trying to fulfill crypto’s original vision of a meritocratic, permissionless system,” said Lawrence Wu, co-founder of Hyperdash.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026

She said changes to how Italy's judges and prosecutors work would make the system "more meritocratic, more responsible, more efficient".

From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2026

This system was hardly meritocratic, although it did provide for the ascension of accomplished political players who knew how to excite a crowd and leverage the tools of power.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2025

To do that, he has managed to secure the presence of 12 European teams for the event, which he has touted as the most meritocratic tournament in soccer.

From New York Times ● Dec. 4, 2024

With the world watching, the new organization carrying the American banner into space would have to be “clean, technically perfect, and meritocratic, the bearer of a myth.”

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly