meritocracy
meritocracy — 名詞
- meritocracysingular
- meritocraciesplural
1. a society or organization where a person's success and position depend on their
英才制度
個人能力決定地位，而非財富或出身
a society or organization where a person's success and position depend on their talent and effort rather than on who their family is or how much money they have
Emre believes that a true meritocracy rewards people for their skills, not their family name.
Emre 認為真正的英才制度應根據技能而非家族名聲來獎勵人們。
that-clause after 'believes' describing an ideal system
Many critics argue that no society has ever been a perfect meritocracy.
許多評論者指出沒有任何社會曾經是完美的英才制度。
passive: 'has never been' for describing an unrealized ideal
Sade chose to work at a university that she felt operated as a meritocracy.
Sade 選擇在一所她認為像英才制度一樣運作的大學工作。
The company calls itself a meritocracy, but most top jobs go to the founder's relatives.
該公司自稱是英才制度，但多數高層職位仍由創辦人的親戚擔任。
Vivek questioned whether a true meritocracy could exist in a world with unequal schools.
Vivek 質疑在學校資源不平等的情況下，真正的英才制度是否可能存在。
- merit system
more specific; used especially for government hiring and promotion based on exams and qualifications
- talentocracy
less common; places slightly stronger emphasis on natural talent rather than effort
- achievement-based system
descriptive phrase rather than a single word; broader and more transparent in meaning
- aristocracy
rule by hereditary nobility; power is inherited, not earned
- plutocracy
rule by the wealthy; money, not ability, determines status
- nepotism
favoritism shown to relatives, the opposite of merit-based selection
文法句型
a [adjective] meritocracy
meritocracy as a concept (uncountable)
用法筆記
Often used in discussions about education, employment, and social policy. Can describe both an ideal system and a real one that critics argue is imperfect. The word is sometimes used as an uncountable noun when talking about the general concept (e.g., 'the idea of meritocracy'), and as a countable noun when referring to a specific system (e.g., 'a true meritocracy').