Meritocracy
/ˌmer.ɪˈtɒk.rə.si/noun
A system in which positions or rewards are based on ability, effort, or achievement.
Did you know?The word was coined in 1958 by British sociologist Michael Young as a satirical warning, not a celebration, of a society that worships “merit” as destiny.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
meritum
“Something earned; a service or deserving act.”
Old French
Old French
merite
“Desert, worth, or reward earned by conduct.”
Middle English
English
merit
“Worthy conduct; deserving of reward or punishment.”
1958
English
meritocracy
“A system of rule by those deemed to have merit; coined satirically by Michael Young.”
Modern English
English
meritocracy
“A system in which advancement is based on ability or achievement.”