meritocracy

American  

[mer-i-tok-ruh-see] / ˌmɛr ɪˈtɒk rə si /

noun

plural

meritocracies

1. an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class, privilege, or wealth.

2. a system in which such persons are rewarded and advanced.

   The dean believes the educational system should be a meritocracy.

3. leadership by able and talented persons.

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meritocracy British  

/ ˌmɛrɪtəˈkrætɪk, ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. rule by persons chosen not because of birth or wealth, but for their superior talents or intellect

2. the persons constituting such a group

3. a social system formed on such a basis

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meritocracy Cultural  

1. A government or society in which citizens who display superior achievement are rewarded with positions of leadership. In a meritocracy, all citizens have the opportunity to be recognized and advanced in proportion to their abilities and accomplishments. The ideal of meritocracy has become controversial because of its association with the use of tests of intellectual ability, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, to regulate admissions to elite colleges and universities. Many contend that an individual's performance on these tests reflects his or her social class and family environment more than ability.

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Other Word Forms

• meritocrat noun
• meritocratic adjective

Etymology

Origin of meritocracy

First recorded in 1955–60; merit + -o- + -cracy

Explanation

Meritocracy is the belief — or a social system founded on that belief — that rulers should be chosen for their abilities rather than for their wealth or family tree. Meritocracy, coined in 1958 by Michael Young, is a combination of merit ("goodness worthy of praise or reward") and aristocracy, meaning "the highest class in certain societies." In a government based on meritocracy, the leaders are chosen because they are the smartest and have best judgment. They can come from the poorest, most humble background just as long as they are the most noble and fit to rule.

Example Sentences

To maintain a meritocracy, a business must hold on to key employees, says Pullman & Comley, a law firm based in Connecticut.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

That isn’t the end of meritocracy—it is what meritocracy looks like at the top.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

Their tactics reflect the values of the supposed meritocracy, leaning heavily on credentials and painting their candidates as inevitable.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2025

That means policies that encourage wealth creation while ensuring broad distribution: meritocracy, progressive taxation, and strong social safety nets.

From Barron's • Oct. 24, 2025

This was the meritocracy John Casteen described when he greeted the parents of freshmen in a University of Virginia lecture hall in the late summer of 2004.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times