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

I’m working with companies that have abandoned hiring algorithms that produced more meritocratic outcomes than human judgment alone—not because the algorithms were flawed, but because the legal exposure wasn’t worth it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

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

The agility competition might be the rhythmic gymnastics of Westminster, derided as less than by traditionalists, but it’s a growing sport with meritocratic principles and an air of antic fun in its favor.

From Seattle Times • May 12, 2024

Also, given that so many of them grew up on a highly structured, meritocratic hamster wheel, you could argue their college years are more childlike than their childhoods.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 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