Word of the Day: Meritocracy

mer·i·toc·ra·cy

noun \ˌmer-ə-ˈtä-krə-sē\

plural mer·i·toc·ra·cies

 

 

Definition of MERITOCRACY

1:  a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement

2:  leadership selected on the basis of intellectual criteria

— mer·it·o·crat·ic adjective

 

Origin of MERITOCRACY

¹merit + -o- + -cracy

First Known Use: 1958

 

Examples:

• For the first time in the 20th century, Britain’s agonisingly slow progress towards meritocracy went into reverse.
• What is happening to the campaigning steamroller that was going to propel the new prophets of technocratic and meritocracy craving Labor into power?

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