What does technocrat mean?
A technocrat is a person who governs, manages, or advises using specialized technical knowledge rather than primarily political judgment. In modern usage, the word most often describes an administrator or official entrusted with making decisions on behalf of a government, corporation, or institution. Technocrats may be engineers, economists, scientists, or other specialists whose expertise is considered necessary for complex policy or operational decisions. The term can be neutral and complimentary when it emphasizes competence, though it is frequently critical, suggesting that supposedly objective experts exercise power without adequate democratic oversight or sensitivity to public values. The related idea of technocracy is government or administration conducted through such expert systems. In everyday discussion, the word is often contrasted with politicians, implying that technocratic decisions are more evidence-based, efficient, or impersonal. Understanding the distinction helps clarify debates over who should make consequential decisions and whether technical expertise should carry greater authority than elected representatives or broader social consultation.
nounA technocrat is an administrator or governing expert who relies on specialized technical knowledge and methods. The term can also refer to an advocate of government or organizational management by technical experts.
- An administrator or official whose decisions are guided by specialized technical knowledge and methods.
- A person who favors governance or organizational control by experts and technocratic principles.
"The technocrat argued that the crisis required decisions based on data rather than political compromise."
"Several senior technocrats proposed a long-term reform of the country's energy system."
"Critics described the policy as the work of unelected technocrats who had little understanding of local communities."
The regular plural is technocrats.
"The technocrats disagreed about how the new system should be implemented."
A technocrat sounds technical, but the word actually describes power: its name joins the Greek words for “craft” and “rule.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of technocrat
Technocrat was coined in English in the early 20th century as political and social thinkers debated the role of expert-led government. It was formed from Greek tékhnē, meaning “craft,” “art,” or “skill,” and a form of Greek krátos, meaning “power” or “rule,” which also underlies the suffix -crat. Its development followed the emergence of technocracy, a term for rule or organization based on technical expertise, and it became closely associated with influential specialists in government and administration.
Related word forms
How technocrat is actually used
The word is formal and commonly occurs in political, economic, and organizational contexts. It may be neutral when describing expertise, but it often carries a critical implication that technocrats are detached from public concerns, democratic accountability, or ordinary people's values.
Easily confused with technocrat
A technologist specializes in a technical field, whereas a technocrat applies technical expertise to administration, governance, or organizational decision-making.
A bureaucrat is defined primarily by administrative routine and bureaucratic authority, while a technocrat is characterized by reliance on technical or specialist knowledge.