meritocratic

American

[mer-i-tuh-krat-ik] / ˌmɛr ɪ təˈkræt ɪk /

adjective

based on ability and talent rather than class, privilege, or wealth.

The prime minister has vowed to create a truly meritocratic country, where everyone will have a fair chance in life.

Etymology

Origin of meritocratic

First recorded in 1955–60; meritocrat ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"To allow Brooks to come back with no consequence would undermine the meritocratic foundations that are the one thing that makes the PGA Tour legitimate," said Golf Channel pundit Brandel Chamblee.

From BBC

This system was hardly meritocratic, although it did provide for the ascension of accomplished political players who knew how to excite a crowd and leverage the tools of power.

From Salon

"I wonder how ‘meritocratic’ a $1 million gift from daddy is to get your business started?" he mused. "Not much meritocracy there."

From Salon

While artists like Halsey and Florence Welch have expressed frustration at record label pressure to create viral videos, Smith calls TikTok a "meritocratic system" that rewards the effort you put in.

From BBC

To do that, he has managed to secure the presence of 12 European teams for the event, which he has touted as the most meritocratic tournament in soccer.

From New York Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023