meritocratic

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mer•i•toc•ra•cy /ˌmɛrɪˈtɑkrəsi/  n., pl. -cies. 

1. a system in which talented persons are rewarded and advanced:
   [uncountable] The concept of meritocracy was foreign to our company.
   [countable] Meritocracies exist in some companies.

See -cracy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mer•i•toc•ra•cy  (mer′i tok′rə sē), n., pl. -cies. 

1. Sociology an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class privilege or wealth.
2. Sociology a system in which such persons are rewarded and advanced:
   The dean believes the educational system should be a meritocracy.
3. Sociology leadership by able and talented persons.

• 1955–60; merit + -o- + -cracy

mer•i•to•crat•ic  (mer′i tə krat′ik), adj.