PoliticsAugust 28, 2026
meritocracy
MEHR-uh-tah-kruh-see
Definition
A society or system in which advancement, power, and status are based solely on individual ability and achievement rather than social class or privilege.
Etymology
The word combines the Latin 'merere' (to earn) with the Greek suffix '-kratia' (power or rule), having been coined in 1958 by British sociologist Michael Young to describe a system governed by the talented.
In the news
The author contrasts the ideal of a meritocracy, where performance determines success, with the reality that corporate leaders of color are often treated differently than their white counterparts.
Two Systems of Justice: How Success Makes Leaders of Color Targets
Read the full article ↗Institute of the Black World 21st Century