What does meritocracy mean?
Meritocracy is a social or institutional system in which advancement, selection, and reward are based on ability, achievement, or demonstrated competence rather than inherited status, wealth, or personal connections. In positive uses, the word suggests fairness and the principle that capable people should be recognized. It is also frequently used critically, especially when people argue that supposedly equal opportunities conceal advantages based on class, gender, race, education, or family background. A meritocratic process might be a competitive examination, an academic scholarship, or a recruitment policy based on performance. The broader concept has shaped discussions of education, employment, political leadership, and institutional accountability. Although the term is often treated as a synonym for a fair or open system, careful discussion distinguishes the ideal of rewarding merit from the practical question of whether everyone genuinely has a fair opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
nounA system or social order in which people advance according to their abilities, achievements, or demonstrated merit rather than inherited status or wealth. The term can also refer to a society or organization structured around such a principle.
- A system in which advancement and reward are based on ability, achievement, or demonstrated competence.
- A society or institution organized according to that principle.
"The competition was designed as a meritocracy in which every participant had an equal opportunity to succeed."
"The civil service exam is intended to create a meritocracy within government."
"Critics argued that the supposed meritocracy was built on unequal access to education and wealth."
The plural is used when referring to different systems, institutions, or societies organized according to merit.
"The two organizations claim to be meritocracies, although their recruitment practices differ considerably."
Meritocracy sounds like the promise of a level playing field, but the term can also expose the inequality that remains when access to opportunity is unequal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does meritocracy come from?
The word was coined in the mid-20th century from the English word “merit” and the Greek-derived ending “-cracy,” meaning rule or power. Its core vocabulary continues the Latin root of “merit,” associated with deservedness and reward, while the political suffix comes from Greek “kratos,” meaning power or rule. The compound popularized a way of describing an order based on achievement rather than inherited privilege.
Related word forms
How meritocracy is actually used
The word is often used critically: a system described as a meritocracy may in practice favor people who already possess advantages. It can also be used approvingly to emphasize selection on achievement rather than inheritance or favoritism.
Easily confused with meritocracy
A meritocracy selects or rewards people on the basis of ability and achievement, whereas an aristocracy privileges people whose status is inherited.
A democracy chiefly concerns political participation and equal political rights, while a meritocracy concerns advancement according to merit.