meritocracy

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

merit, from Latin mereō (“earn”) + -cracy, from Ancient Greek κράτος (kratos, “strength, power”).

Coined in 1958 by Michael Young, in his book Rise of the Meritocracy.[1]

[edit] Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA: /mɛɹɪˈtɒkɹəsi/
  • (US) IPA: /mɛɻəˈtɑkɻəsi/

[edit] Noun

meritocracy (plural meritocracies)

  1. Rule by merit, and talent. By extension, now often used to describe a type of society where wealth, income, and social status are assigned through competition.

[edit] Usage notes

Though widely used as a term of praise,[2] the term was original coined as a satire, and a critique of awarding educational achievement.[1]

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

rule by merit

[3]

[edit] References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Down with meritocracy, by Michael Young, in The Guardian, June 29, 2001.
  2. ^ Meritocracy's Lab Rat, by Timothy Noah
  3. ^ The Rise of the Meritocracy,1870-2033: an Essay on Education and Equality; Michael Young
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