meritocracy

mer·i·toc·ra·cy

an intellectual elite, based on academic achievement
a system in which such an elite achieves special status, as in positions of leadership

Origin of meritocracy

merit + -o- + -cracy; from The Rise of the Meritocracy, book (1958) by M. Young (1915-2002), British sociologist

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MLA Style

"meritocracy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/meritocracy>.

APA Style

meritocracy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/meritocracy

meritocracy

noun

pl. mer·i·toc·ra·cies

A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.
a. A group of leaders or officeholders selected on the basis of individual ability or achievement.
b. Leadership by such a group.

Related Forms:

mer′it·o·crat′
noun

mer′it·o·crat′ic
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"meritocracy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/meritocracy>.

APA Style

meritocracy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/meritocracy

Noun

(plural meritocracies)

Rule by merit, and talent. By extension, now often used to describe a type of society where wealth, income, and social status are assigned through competition.

Usage notes

Though widely used as a term of praise, the term was original coined as a satire, and a critique of awarding educational achievement.

Origin

merit, from Latin mereÅ (“earn") + -cracy, from Ancient Greek ÎºÏÎ¬Ï„Î¿Ï‚ (kratos, “strength, power").

Coined in 1958 by Michael Young, in his book Rise of the Meritocracy.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"meritocracy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/meritocracy>.

APA Style

meritocracy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/meritocracy

meritocracy

meritocracy

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meritocracy

meritocracy

Sentence Examples

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