What does egalitarianism mean?
Egalitarianism is the belief or principle that all people are fundamentally equal and therefore deserve equal rights, opportunities, and treatment. It functions primarily as a noun describing a moral or political doctrine, one that underpins many modern ideas about democracy, civil rights, and social justice. The word derives from the French 'égalitaire', ultimately rooted in the Latin 'aequalis', meaning level or even. In practice, egalitarianism can be invoked across a wide range of debates — from income distribution and educational access to gender and racial equality — making it a versatile term in political and philosophical writing. Its register is formal; in everyday conversation people more often say someone believes in fairness or equality. The related adjective, 'egalitarian', is considerably more common, as in 'an egalitarian society'. Understanding egalitarianism is valuable because it names not merely a condition but an active commitment — a vision of how society ought to be arranged rather than a description of how it currently is.
nounThe belief in or principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights, opportunities, and treatment. It can also refer more broadly to a doctrine or social philosophy aimed at removing inequalities among people.
- The doctrine or belief that all people should have equal political, social, and economic rights and opportunities.
- A social philosophy or political stance actively promoting the removal of inequalities among individuals or groups.
"Her commitment to egalitarianism shaped every policy she championed as a legislator."
"The country's founding charter was steeped in the language of egalitarianism."
"Critics argued that the organisation paid lip service to egalitarianism while its pay structure told a different story."
Rarely used in the plural. When it does appear, it usually distinguishes between different schools or varieties of egalitarian thought, such as economic versus political egalitarianism.
"Political philosophers distinguish several competing egalitarianisms, each defining equality differently."
The word 'egalitarian' comes from the French 'égalitaire', rooted in the Latin 'aequalis' — meaning level or even — the same root that gives us 'equator', the invisible line that divides our planet into two perfectly equal halves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of egalitarianism
Egalitarianism derives from the French 'égalitaire', formed from 'égal' meaning equal, which traces back through Old French to the Latin 'aequalis', meaning level, even, or uniform, itself from 'aequus' meaning fair or equal. The term entered English in the late nineteenth century, alongside the adjective 'egalitarian', though 'equalitarian' had been used earlier. It shares its Latin root with words such as equality, equation, equator, and adequate.
Related word forms
How egalitarianism is actually used
Egalitarianism is a formal or academic term, most common in political science, sociology, philosophy, and serious journalism. It carries a generally positive connotation in mainstream usage, though it may be used critically or ironically depending on context. The related adjective 'egalitarian' is far more frequent in everyday speech.
Easily confused with egalitarianism
Equality refers to the state of being equal itself, whereas egalitarianism is the belief, doctrine, or movement advocating for equality.
Equanimity means mental calmness and composure in difficult situations, unrelated to the concept of human equality central to egalitarianism.