Meanings
plural epistocracies · alternative epistemocracy
- uncountableA rule by citizens with political knowledge, or a proposed political system which concentrates political power in citizens according to their knowledge.
So maybe it’s time to consider an alternative to democracy called epistocracy. In a democracy, every citizen gets an equal right to vote. In an epistocracy, voting power is widespread, but votes are weighted: More knowledgeable citizens’ votes count more.
2016, “Can Epistocracy, or knowledge-based voting, fix the problems with democracy?”, in Los Angeles Times - countableA government run by citizens with political knowledge.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἐπιστήμη“knowledge”
- Englishepistocracy
From Ancient Greek ἐπιστήμη (epistḗmē, “knowledge”) + suffix -κρατία (-kratía), from κράτος (krátos, “power, rule”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
epistocracy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epistocracy
“epistocracy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epistocracy. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “epistocracy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epistocracy.
Source: epistocracy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.