5 syllables: Me, ri, to, crat, ic. Stress on crat.
mer-it-uh-KRAT-ik
/ˌmɛɹɪtəˈkrætɪk/
Meritocratic is pronounced mer-it-uh-KRAT-ik (/ˌmɛɹɪtəˈkrætɪk/). It has five syllables (Me-ri-to-crat-ic), with the stress on "crat". Meritocratic is an adjective describing a system, organization, or society in which status and opportunities are allocated based on demonstrated talent, effort, and achievement rather than birth or wealth. It emphasizes merit as the principal criterion for advancement, often underpinning discussions of fairness and efficiency in governance, education, or corporate culture. The term conveys a belief in measurable ability guiding reward and responsibility.
adjectiveMeritocratic is an adjective describing a system, organization, or society in which status and opportunities are allocated based on demonstrated talent, effort, and achievement rather than birth or wealth. It emphasizes merit as the principal criterion for advancement, often underpinning discussions of fairness and efficiency in governance, education, or corporate culture. The term conveys a belief in measurable ability guiding reward and responsibility.
- Common Mistake 1: Underemphasizing the middle 'to' leading to me-rit-oo-? Correction: keep me-ri-TOT? Actually: Correct pronunciation is /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/ with three distinct open vowels: /ɪ/ in me, /ə/ in ti, /æ/ in krat. Make sure not to compress into two syllables. - Common Mistake 2: Merging 'crat' with a subtle 't' and producing /-krat-ick/; Correction: ensure the 'tr' sequence, alveolar stop + r, lands; the 't' before 'i' requires sharp release. - Common Mistake 3: Wrong primary stress location; Correction: primary stress on the third syllable: mer-ɪ-TA-krat-ɪk; in practice: /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/ with stress on 'krat'.
How to Pronounce Meritocratic
"The university prides itself on its meritocratic admissions process, awarding spots based on grades and test scores."
"Critics argued that the meritocratic model ignores inherited advantages and systemic barriers."
"A meritocratic leadership style seeks to promote individuals who prove their capability through performance."
Pronounce as /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/. Stress falls on the third syllable, ri-TAR-ic? Actually: the primary stress is on the third syllable: me-ri-TO-CR-at-ic? Wait; correct breakdown: me-ri-toc-ra-tic? Correction: The standard pronunciation is meh-RI-tu-CRA-tic? Let me be precise: /ˌmer.ɪˈtɒ.kræ.tɪk/ for UK? Hold: The accepted phonetic is /ˌmerɪˈtɒkrætɪk/ (US: /ˌmerɪˈtɑːkrætɪk/ or /ˌmɛrɪˈtɒkrætɪk/?). This needs authoritative standard: US /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/; UK /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/; AU /ˌmɛrɪtəˈkræ̯tɪk/. For clarity: break as me-ri-to-crat-ic, primary stress on
Common mistakes include stressing the wrong syllable (often placing primary stress on 'me' or 'to'), and mispronouncing the middle 't' cluster as a simple 't' rather than a 'tɒ' or 'tɔ' quality. Another frequent error is reducing the second syllable to a schwa too early, leading to me-ruh-TAK- no: you should preserve a clear 'mi-RE-ti-CRAT-ic' with a distinct 'krat' in the stressed position. Correct by practicing: me-RI-tuh-CRAT-ik, with secondary stress on the 'me' and 'tuh' parts.
US: /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/ with rhoticity; the 'r' is pronounced, vowel in 'mer' is /ə/ or /ɪ/; UK: /ˌmɛrɪtəˈkrætɪk/? Actually: UK: /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/ with non-rhotic 'r' in many dialects; AU: /ˌmɛrɪtəˈkrækrætɪk/—similar to UK but vowel quality can lean toward /æ/ in 'krat'.
Because it combines three syllables with a strong mid-stress: -meri- (unstressed- stressed pattern), -to- where 'to' blends into 'krat', and -crat- with a tense, alveolar stop plus 'ɪk' ending. The sequence /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/ requires precise articulation of the /t/ + /Kr/ cluster and a clear 'krat' syllable. Practicing slow, enunciated syllables helps align tongue movements and prevent vowel reduction in the middle.
The 'crat' part should not be mispronounced as 'krat' or 'crat-ic' with a weak /æ/; ensure the /æ/ in 'krat' is clear and the following /ɪk/ is short. Also ensure the second syllable isn't collapsed into a schwa; keep the secondary stress lightly on the -ri- portion to aid rhythm and prevent monotone delivery.
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- US: rhotic; pronounce the 'r' clearly, maintain a mid-back tongue position; Vowel in 'mer' is /ɪ/; 'ti' is /tə/; 'krat' uses /kræt/ with open front vowel /æ/. - UK: often non-rhotic; the 'r' may be silent in many dialects; still keep the /ɪtə/ sequence; 'krat' pronounced with /æ/; - AU: similar to UK but with broad vowels; you may hear a slightly more centralized 'ə' in the second syllable; maintain the /æ/ in 'krat' for clarity. IPA references: US /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/, UK /ˌmerɪtəˈkrætɪk/, AU /ˌmɛrɪtəˈkrætɪk/.
Meritocratic comes from the French meritocratie, which itself derives from the Latin meritus (deserving, earned) and Greek kratos (power, rule). The term likely emerged in the late 19th to early 20th century amid debates about social mobility and governance. It fused merit- (from Latin meritum, deserved reward) with -cratic (from Greek -kratia, rule or power). The sense evolved from describing a system of governance to a broader social ideal where measured ability determines rank and opportunity. First known English uses appear in political and academic discourses discussing reform and fairness, evolving to common usage in discussions of corporate culture and public policy as societies increasingly valued performance metrics over pedigree.
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Words that rhyme with "Meritocratic"
-tic sounds
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