Skip to content

meritocrazia

meritocracy

noun meh-ree-toh-KRAH-tsyah Rare
People & Society Values

Origin: Coined in English (1958, Michael Young) from Latin meritum + Greek kratos; borrowed into Italian.

Usage Note

Meritocrazia describes a system in which advancement is based on ability and achievement rather than birth or connections. In Italian political discourse it is often invoked as an ideal contrasted with nepotismo or raccomandazione (the practice of getting ahead through personal connections). The plural is meritocrazia → meritocrazie.

Examples

"In una vera meritocrazia conta solo il talento."

Natural Translation

In a true meritocracy, only talent counts.

Explore Italian by topic