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meritocracy
[ mer-i-tok-ruh-see ]
noun
- an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class, privilege, or wealth.
- a system in which such persons are rewarded and advanced:
The dean believes the educational system should be a meritocracy.
- leadership by able and talented persons.
meritocracy
/ ˌmɛrɪtəˈkrætɪk; ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkrəsɪ /
noun
- rule by persons chosen not because of birth or wealth, but for their superior talents or intellect
- the persons constituting such a group
- a social system formed on such a basis
meritocracy
- 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.
Derived Forms
- ˈٴˌ, noun
- meritocratic, adjective
Other 51Թ Forms
- ··ٴ·· [mer-i-t, uh, -, krat, -ik], adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of meritocracy1
Example Sentences
They want to pretend that the world is a meritocracy where white men just happen to be the best.
To move closer to the elusive ideal of a true meritocracy where the best of the best rise to the top, it’s time for an entirely new approach.
Decades of relying on the rules of an ostensible meritocracy, however, have proven one thing: that it's an illusory social ideal.
There’s the mythology of capitalist meritocracy at work, which is still championed by many people who’ve been failed by both major political parties.
In a real meritocracy, none of them would ever work again.
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