Merocracy
/məˈrɒkəsi/noun
Government or political control by a part or faction of a population.
Did you know?The first element comes from Greek meros, meaning “part,” the same root found in scientific words such as polymer and isomer.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mer-
“To divide, allot, or apportion”
Ancient Greek
Greek
meros
“A part, share, or portion”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kratos
“Power, strength, or rule”
19th Century
English
-cracy
“A combining form meaning government or rule, transmitted through French and Latin from Greek”
19th–20th Century
English
merocracy
“Government by a part or faction of a people”
Modern English
English
merocracy
“Rule or control exercised by one section of a population”