meritocracy
noun
mer·i·toc·ra·cy
ˌmer-ə-ˈtä-krə-sē 
plural meritocracies
: a system, organization, or society in which people are chosen and moved into positions of success, power, and influence on the basis of their demonstrated abilities and merit (see merit entry 1 sense 1b)
Only the elite, in that new meritocracy, would enjoy the opportunity for self-fulfillment …—
Robert Penn Warren
Robert Penn WarrenThough founded theoretically on principles of meritocracy, the public arena was parceled into spheres of personal influence …—Mac Margolis
Mac MargolisA paradox lies at the heart of this new American meritocracy. Merit has replaced the old system of inherited privilege … . But merit, it turns out, is at least partly class-based. Parents with money, education and connections cultivate in their children the habits that the meritocracy rewards.—Janny Scott et al.
Janny Scott et al.
also
: the people who are moved into such positions
a member of the meritocracy
France remains a tightly centralized nation, run by a governmental and business meritocracy carefully prepared for positions of power in elite graduate schools. —Jim Hoagland
Jim Hoagland Examples of meritocracy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many of them had swallowed the myth of meritocracy whole.
—Alexandra Jane, Essence, 31 July 2025
In a foundational study, it was found that companies professing a strong belief in meritocracy were more likely to reward men over equally performing women because the belief in objectivity ironically reduces self-scrutiny in decisions, giving managers subconscious permission to act on stereotypes.
—Heather Price, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Larger workforce inequality in tech and startups and tech's failure to be a meritocracy play strong roles in the lack of gender equity and female leadership in tech.
—Aman Kidwai, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Full-on meritocracy hasn’t really been there, either.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 15 May 2025
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Alexandra Jane, Essence, 31 July 2025
In a foundational study, it was found that companies professing a strong belief in meritocracy were more likely to reward men over equally performing women because the belief in objectivity ironically reduces self-scrutiny in decisions, giving managers subconscious permission to act on stereotypes.
—Heather Price, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Larger workforce inequality in tech and startups and tech's failure to be a meritocracy play strong roles in the lack of gender equity and female leadership in tech.
—Aman Kidwai, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Full-on meritocracy hasn’t really been there, either.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for meritocracy
Cite this Entry
“Meritocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meritocracy. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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