technocracy

American  

[tek-nok-ruh-see] / tɛkˈnɒk rə si /

noun

technocracies plural

1. a theory and movement, prominent about 1932, advocating control of industrial resources, reform of financial institutions, and reorganization of the social system, based on the findings of technologists and engineers.

2. a system of government in which this theory is applied.

3. any application of this theory.

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technocracy British  

/ ˈtɛknəˌkræt, tɛkˈnɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. a theory or system of society according to which government is controlled by scientists, engineers, and other experts

2. a body of such experts

3. a state considered to be governed or organized according to these principles

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technocracy ¹ Cultural  

1. The control of government and society by people with technical skills, especially engineers.

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technocracy ² Cultural  

1. A type of society marked by the dominant role of people with specialized technical skills, particularly engineers.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• technocrat
  noun
• technocratic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• technocracies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of technocracy

First recorded in 1919; techno- + -cracy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

technocracy technocracies

However, the technocracy movement dates back to the 1930s, when it won thousands of followers and adopted some unnerving authoritarian hallmarks, such as its adherents dressing similarly and greeting each other with a specific salute.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2025

Group three - the technocracy - should also be open to the ambassador's advances.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2025

Like Muskism, technocracy took its inspiration from science fiction and rested on the conviction that technology and engineering can solve all political, social and economic problems.

From New York Times ● Nov. 4, 2021

As Virginia Postrel described technocracy in her insightful 1998 book The Future and Its Enemies, “Technocrats are ‘for the future,’ but only if someone is in charge of making it turn out to plan.”

From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2018

Tomorrow's technocracy will produce more and more things for better living.

From The Penal Cluster by Garrett, Randall

This has resulted in a number of half-baked supremacists within the tech industry who advocate either for authoritarian technocracies or, more bizarrely, monarchy.

From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2019