egalitarian

adjective

egal·​i·​tar·​i·​an i-ˌga-lə-ˈter-ē-ən How to pronounce egalitarian (audio)
: asserting, promoting, or marked by egalitarianism
egalitarian noun

Examples of egalitarian in a Sentence

egalitarian policies for the redistribution of wealth
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Musk’s behavior and rhetoric do not track with the egalitarian principles these interests would suggest. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025 But make no mistake: There are inescapable tradeoffs between the pursuit of excellence and a focus on purely egalitarian outcomes. Matthew Yglesias, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025 Its egalitarian principles are seen in America’s founding documents, and its roots lie in landmark 20th-century efforts such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act and affirmative action policies, as well as movements for racial justice, gender equity, disability rights, veterans and immigrants. Rodney Coates, The Conversation, 29 May 2025 Sometimes liberals have appeared to favor egalitarian policies like affirmative action that challenge some people’s sense of fairness. Kevin M. Schultz, Harpers Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for egalitarian

Word History

Etymology

French égalitaire, from égalité equality, from Latin aequalitat-, aequalitas, from aequalis equal

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of egalitarian was in 1885

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Egalitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egalitarian. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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