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meritocracy
[ mer-i-tok-ruh-see ]
noun
- an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class, privilege, or wealth.
- a system in which such persons are rewarded and advanced:
The dean believes the educational system should be a meritocracy.
- leadership by able and talented persons.
meritocracy
/ ˌmɛrɪtəˈkrætɪk; ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkrəsɪ /
noun
- rule by persons chosen not because of birth or wealth, but for their superior talents or intellect
- the persons constituting such a group
- a social system formed on such a basis
meritocracy
- A government or society in which citizens who display superior achievement are rewarded with positions of leadership. In a meritocracy, all citizens have the opportunity to be recognized and advanced in proportion to their abilities and accomplishments. The ideal of meritocracy has become controversial because of its association with the use of tests of intellectual ability, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test , to regulate admissions to elite colleges and universities. Many contend that an individual's performance on these tests reflects his or her social class and family environment more than ability.
Derived Forms
- ˈmeritoˌcrat, noun
- meritocratic, adjective
Other Words From
- mer·i·to·crat·ic [mer-i-t, uh, -, krat, -ik], adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of meritocracy1
Example Sentences
Not quite saying what academic aptitude is, he is sure Harvard should emphasize it to create a “true meritocracy.”
We want to believe in the meritocracy, and, more importantly, that we are the sole proprietors of our achievements.
Both generations of meritocracy are tied to good things: hard work, high standards, social mobility.
Our meritocracy is doing more harm than good, and its members—and everyone else—need to start questioning it.
Our meritocracy has become the ideology of a self-concerned, infinitely ambitious, and basically fearful economy.
With meritocracy in the ascendance, aristocracy was in descent.
Meritocracy is a "fair play" by rules of equal chance to derive benefits.
Which leads us to the death of meritocracy and why this region's future is behind it.
All modern states and societies must choose whether to be governed by merit (meritocracy) or by the privileged few (oligarchy).
What sets meritocracy apart is not the number of members of its ruling (or leading) class, usually no larger than an oligarchy.
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