Word of the Day: Meritocracy

Definitions of meritocracy:

noun: the belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior abilities and not because of their wealth or birth
noun: a form of social system in which power goes to those with superior intellects

mer·i·toc·ra·cy

noun \ˌmer-ə-ˈtä-krə-sē\

plural mer·i·toc·ra·cies

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

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?
Many liberal democracies, Britain included, justify wide disparities in the income levels of the rich and poor in terms of a doctrine of meritocracy.
In the earlier article, Herrnstein argued that our society is a meritocracy where not only does the cream rise to the top, but it starts near the top from day one.
Social mobility will therefore be high during the transition period to a meritocracy and as society becomes more equal.
If no one accuses me of saying that we’re living in a caste system or rigid class society I promise not to ask anyone to defend our society as a pure meritocracy.