English dictionary · noun

meritocracy

Rule by merit and talent.

Meaning and definitions

1. Rule by merit and talent.
2. A type of society where wealth, income, and social status are assigned through competition.
3. An ideological myth or social construct used to legitimize capitalism by framing inequality as a fair outcome of personal ability, masking systemic discrimination against the working class, queer, and transsexual communities.

Connected roots

• -cracy

  power, rule

Explore the word family

These words share a recorded root connection. A shared root is a learning clue; it does not establish every step in a word’s history.

• democracy

  a system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives

• democrat

  A supporter of democracy; an advocate of democratic politics (originally (historical) as opposed to the aristocrats in Revolutionary France).

• bureaucracy

  Government by bureaus or their administrators or officers.

• aristocracy

  the highest class in society; government by a privileged class

• aristocrat

  One of the aristocracy, nobility, or people of rank in a community; one of a ruling class; a noble (originally in Revolutionary France).

• bureaucrat

  An official who is part of a bureaucracy.

• autocracy

  A form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual.

• theocracy

  Government under the control of a state religion.

• autocrat

  An absolute ruler with infinite power.

• technocracy

  A system of governance where people who are skilled or proficient govern in their respective areas of expertise.

• technocrat

  An advocate of technocracy.

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