meritocracy
2 synonyms and 3 antonyms for meritocracy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A system in which people advance according to their ability and effort rather than their wealth, class or connections.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A system in which people advance according to their ability and effort rather than their wealth, class or connections.
“The firm claims to be a meritocracy where the best ideas win.”
Opposites
2. noun
The group of people who hold power in such a system.
“A new technical meritocracy came to dominate the industry.”
How to use meritocracy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal to neutral; frequent in politics, education and management writing.
Etymology
From Latin meritum 'that which is deserved' plus -cracy, from Greek -kratia 'rule, power'. The word was coined in English in the mid-20th century.
Full origin of meritocracy →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between meritocracy and equality?
Equality is about people having the same standing or the same starting point; meritocracy is about unequal rewards distributed by ability and effort. A meritocracy accepts unequal outcomes provided the competition was fair.
Is meritocracy a positive or negative word?
It began as a satirical coinage and is still used critically, but in everyday business and political speech it is usually positive, describing a fair system. Tone depends heavily on the writer.
What is the opposite of a meritocracy?
A system where position comes from birth, wealth or connections, such as an aristocracy, a plutocracy, or an organisation run on nepotism.