Meritocracy

Extracted Attributes

• Challenges

  Nepotism, hereditary privilege, social class, wealth.

• Definition

  A political system in which economic goods or political power are vested in individual people based on ability and talent, rather than wealth or social class.

• Field of Study

  Sociology, Political Science

• Origin of Concept

  Ancient roots, exemplified by Plato's Republic.

• Current Connotation

  Often refers to social systems emphasizing personal advancement based on individual capabilities, frequently seen as equality of opportunity.

• Initial Connotation

  Pejorative and dystopian.

• Basis of Advancement

  Performance, as measured through examination or demonstrated achievement.

Timeline

• Sociologist Alan Fox first used the term "meritocracy" in the journal "Socialist Commentary." (Source: Merriam-Webster)

  1956-05-01

• Sociologist Michael Dunlop Young popularized the term in his dystopian political and satirical book "The Rise of the Meritocracy." (Source: Wikipedia)

  1958-01-01

• Discussions on achieving a true meritocracy in the context of the Supreme Court's Race-based Admissions Ban and the consideration of socioeconomic disadvantage in admissions. (Source: Document 23376dcf-178a-42cd-9c96-71d8ef9ab0f4)

  Recent

Meritocracy

Meritocracy (merit, from Latin mereō, and -cracy, from Ancient Greek κράτος kratos 'strength, power') is the notion of a political system in which economic goods or political power are vested in individual people based on ability and talent, rather than wealth or social class. Advancement in such a system is based on performance, as measured through examination or demonstrated achievement. Although the concept of meritocracy has existed for centuries, the first known use of the term was by sociologist Alan Fox in the journal Socialist Commentary in 1956. It was then popularized by sociologist Michael Dunlop Young, who used the term in his dystopian political and satirical book The Rise of the Meritocracy in 1958. While the word was coined and popularized as a pejorative, its usage has ameliorated. Today, the term is often utilised to refer to social systems in which personal advancement and success primarily reflect an individual's capabilities and merits, frequently seen as equality of opportunity. It thus challenges forms of nepotism or hereditary aristocracy.

Web Search Results

• Meritocracy - Wikipedia

  Meritocracy (merit, from Latin mereō, and -cracy, from Ancient Greek κράτος kratos 'strength, power') is the notion of a political system in which economic goods or political power are vested in individual people based on ability and talent, rather than wealth or social class. Advancement in such a system is based on performance, as measured through examination or demonstrated achievement. Although the concept of meritocracy has existed for centuries, the first known use of the term was by [...] The "most common definition of meritocracy conceptualizes merit in terms of tested competency and ability, and most likely, as measured by IQ or standardized achievement tests". In government and other administrative systems, "meritocracy" refers to a system under which advancement within the system turns on "merits", like performance, intelligence, credentials, and education. These are often determined through evaluations or examinations.[page needed] [...] In a more general sense, meritocracy can refer to any form of evaluation based on achievement. Like "utilitarian" and "pragmatic", the word "meritocratic" has also developed a broader connotation, and is sometimes used to refer to any government run by "a ruling or influential class of educated or able people".

• Understanding Meritocracy from a Sociological Perspective

  Skip to content # Understanding Meritocracy from a Sociological Perspective On This Page: Toggle Meritocracy is an ideology wherein those who work hard are rewarded for their ability and efforts. From a sociological perspective, the meritocratic system believes that successful people are fully deserving of such. [...] A meritocratic society is one where jobs and pay are allocated to individuals based on their talent and achievement rather than their ascriptive factors, like social class, gender, ethnicity, or wealth. In contrast, those who do not work hard are seen as undeserving and will not be rewarded. The idea of meritocracy was first coined by British sociologist Michael Young in 1958 and has received much attention since. [...] The core idea of meritocracy is that it is intended to avoid inequalities based on social markers. However, it has been suggested that attempts to implement meritocracy leads to the kinds of inequalities that it aims to eliminate. Adopting meritocracy convinces successful people that they are morally superior, and they thus become less inclined to examine their behavior for signs of prejudice (Castilla & Benard, 2010).

• Meritocracy | Definition, Education, Criticism, & Facts - Britannica

  meritocracy, political, social, or economic system in which individuals are assigned to positions of power, influence, or reward solely on the basis of their abilities and achievements and not on the basis of their social, cultural, or economic background or irrelevant personal characteristics. Meritocracy represents a rejection of hereditary aristocracy and nepotism. The theory of meritocracy presupposes the possibility of equality of opportunity. [...] Meritocracy as a social-scientific concept was formally introduced in the mid-1950s by the British industrial sociologist Alan Fox, who argued that meritocracy was a pernicious form of social organization that would exacerbate inequality and social stratification based on “occupational status.” Fox’s analysis anticipated the treatment of meritocracy in The Rise of the Meritocracy, 1870–2033: An Essay on Education and Equality (1958), by the British sociologist Michael Young, a satirical [...] The basic elements of the concept of meritocracy are displayed in the Republic, a dialogue by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato (428/427–348/347 bce), who advocated a society in which each person would belong to one of three classes—rulers (philosophers), guardians (soldiers), and producers (farmers and craftsmen)—based on their natural abilities. A much later, historical example of the meritocratic stance was that of Napoleon I (1769–1821), who claimed (while in exile in St. Helena) that his

• MERITOCRACY Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

  1. 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 [...] UP NEXT Image 77: thumbnail-oa2eosjrjftuencsjjrwysdznrehotkz This Or That: Jealous vs. Envious NOW PLAYING UP NEXT Chartaceous: Word of the Day meritocracy / ˌmɛrɪtəˈkrætɪk, ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkrəsɪ / noun ---- 1. rule by persons chosen not because of birth or wealth, but for their superior talents or intellect 2. the persons constituting such a group 3. a social system formed on such a basis [...] MERITOCRACY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com =============== Other Word FormsWord History and OriginsExample SentencesWord of the DayQuiz Advertisement American British Cultural meritocracy =========== [mer-i-tok-r _uh_-see] Phonetic (Standard) IPA noun ---- ### plural meritocracies 1. an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class, privilege, or wealth. 2. a system in which such persons are rewarded and advanced.

• MERITOCRACY Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

  Note: The neologism meritocracy was apparently first used in print by the British industrial sociologist Alan Fox (1920-2002) in the article "Class and Equality," Socialist Commentary, May, 1956, pp. 11-13. The word is now closely associated with the book The Rise of the Meritocracy (London: Thames & Hudson, 1958) by the sociologist and politician Michael Young (1915-2002), who is often credited with its coinage. 1956, in the meaning defined above ## Rhymes for meritocracy [...] link icon link icon link icon Definition Definition # meritocracy ## noun How to pronounce meritocracy (audio) How to pronounce meritocracy (audio) ## Examples of meritocracy in a Sentence ## Word History merit entry 1 + -o- + -cracy [...] Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox! © 2025 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Meritocracy (merit, from Latin mereō, and -cracy, from Ancient Greek κράτος kratos 'strength, power') is the notion of a political system in which economic goods and/or political power are vested in individual people based on talent, effort, and achievement, rather than wealth or social class. Advancement in such a system is based on performance, as measured through examination or demonstrated achievement. Although the concept of meritocracy has existed for centuries, the first known use of the term was by sociologist Alan Fox in the journal Socialist Commentary in 1956. It was then popularized by sociologist Michael Dunlop Young, who used the term in his dystopian political and satirical book The Rise of the Meritocracy in 1958.