merit system

American  

noun

1. a system or policy whereby people are promoted or rewarded on the basis of ability and achievement rather than because of seniority, quotas, patronage, or the like.

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merit system British  

noun

1. the system of employing and promoting civil servants solely on the basis of ability rather than patronage Compare spoils system

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Etymology

Origin of merit system

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

If a leader can’t perform their job, it violates one of the key principles of the federal merit system to “manage employees efficiently and effectively.”

From Washington Post

The restored merit system will apply to freshmen entering the school in the fall of 2023.

From Seattle Times

Administrations in both parties have sought workarounds to ease hiring in recent years, getting permission from Congress and the Office of Personnel Management to forgo the competitive merit system.

From Washington Post

“We could not conclude appointment was free of political influence and complied with merit system principles and applicable civil service laws and regulations,” the reviewing official wrote.

From Seattle Times

These are the people who love you, or at least they’re supposed to, and being judged a “dropout with no real desire to move forward” puts that love on a merit system.

From Washington Post