Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Meritocracy is a system or society where success and status are achieved through individual ability and effort rather than wealth or social position. It emphasizes talent, skills, and achievement as the basis for upward social mobility.
Related terms
Social mobility: The movement of individuals, families, or groups through a system of social hierarchy or stratification.
Stratification: The arrangement or classification of something into different groups that often involves a hierarchy of social categories such as class, race, and gender.
Equality of opportunity: A state in which all individuals within a society have the same chances to pursue economic or educational achievements regardless of their background or social status