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

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

While artists like Halsey and Florence Welch have expressed frustration at record label pressure to create viral videos, Smith calls TikTok a "meritocratic system" that rewards the effort you put in.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 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