Meritocracy is a system or ideology in which advancement or rewards are based on individual ability, effort, and achievement rather than wealth or social status. It is often discussed in politics and organizational settings as a mechanism for fair competition, though critics point to potential blind spots and unequal access. The term emphasizes merit as the criterion for opportunity and recognition across a society or institution.
"In a meritocracy, promotions should come from demonstrated performance rather than tenure."
"The company's meritocracy rewards high achievers with leadership roles and enhanced responsibilities."
"Critics argue that true meritocracy requires equal starting conditions to be fair."
"Policies aimed at education access are key to maintaining a functioning meritocracy in a diverse population."
Meritocracy derives from the French meritocratie, which in turn comes from the Latin stems merit- (merit, reward) and -cracy (rule, power). The suffix -cracy originated in Greek via -kratia, from kratos (power, strength). The term appears to have been coined in the mid-20th century to describe governance systems where social rank or advancement is supposedly earned by merit. Its early usage often appeared in discussions of social reform and organizational management, contrasting merit-based advancement with traditional aristocratic or bourgeois privilege. Over time, scholars debated the practicality and ethics of meritocracy, noting that the concept can obscure structural inequities that influence “merit” itself, such as access to education, mentorship, and networks. Today, meritocracy is widely used in political philosophy, economics, and corporate discourse, sometimes as a goal, other times as a critique of possible merit-blindness in real-world systems.
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Words that rhyme with "Meritocracy"
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Break it as: /ˌmerɪˈtɒkrəsi/ (US) or /ˌmerɪˈtɒkrəsi/ (UK). Stress falls on the third syllable: me-ri-TOT-ra-cy. Start with MEH-rih, move to TIH, then KROH, then see-sy. The key sounds: /ˈmɛr/ as in 'mer' and /tɒk/ with a short o, followed by /rə/ reduced vowel, and ending with /si/ as in 'see' and a soft final /i/. Audio references: you can listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo and mimic the rhythm and intonation patterns.
Two common errors: 1) Misplacing stress by saying mer-i-TO-cracy (/ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkəri/) with stress on the wrong syllable; correct is me-ri-TOT-ra-cy. 2) Slurring the syllables into /ˌmɪrɪˈtɒkrəsi/ or conflating /tɔ/ with /tɒ/; ensure the /tɒk/ is a sharp, crisp syllable. Practice by isolating the TROK and CH sound cluster, and rehearse the full word with slow tempo, then speed up.
US pronunciation: /ˌmerɪˈtɑːkrəsi/ with rhotic /r/ and a relatively broad /æ/ or /ɑː/ in the stressed syllable depending on speaker, final /si/ as /si/; UK/RP: /ˌmerɪˈtɒkrəsi/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a shorter /ɒ/; Australian: /ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkrəsi/ or /ˌmɪrɪˈtɒkrəsi/ with variable rhoticity and a clipped, quick ending. The main differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in the stressed syllable, plus length and intonation patterns.
It combines a multi-syllabic structure with a /t/ + /kr/ cluster and a reduced unstressed ending. The syllable sequence me-ri-TOT-ra-cy requires precise articulation: the /t/ must lead cleanly into /kr/, and the final /si/ must be clearly enunciated after a schwa-like /rə/. The varying vowel qualities across accents and the length of the stressed syllable contribute to difficulty for non-native speakers.
One unique aspect is the /tɒk/ cluster followed by /rə/; many learners mispronounce it as /tɔk/ or mix /kr/ with /krəs/; keep the /t/ crisp, then glide into /kr/ without adding extra vowel between /t/ and /kr/. Also ensure the final /əsi/ is pronounced as /əsi/, not /aʊsi/ or /aɪsi/. Practicing with paired minimal phrases helps anchor the sequence.
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