Main Entry:

mer·i·toc·ra·cy

Pronunciation:

\ˌmer-ə-ˈtä-krə-sē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural mer·i·toc·ra·cies

Etymology:

¹merit + -o- + -cracy

Date:

1958

1 : a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement 2 : leadership selected on the basis of intellectual criteria

— mer·it·o·crat·ic \ˌmer-ə-tə-ˈkra-tik\ adjective