meritocrat

plural meritocrats

1. An advocate of meritocracy.
2. A person who has authority allegedly based on ability.

   The state uses universal testing to identify and elevate meritocrats, leaving most of England’s citizens poor and demoralized, without even a legitimate grievance, since, after all, who could argue that the wise should not rule?

   2019 September 5, Sarah Leonard, “The Fall of the Meritocracy”, in The New Republic, archived from the original on 07 Sep 2019

   1 more example

   In a sharp critique in The New Republic, Sarah Leonard questioned his downplaying of the power of capital over labor, as well as his faith that demoralized meritocrats might make common cause with the beleaguered middle class in exchange for a saner life. […] Amy Chua, author of the best-selling how-to-raise-an-uber-meritocrat memoir “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” (and whom Mr. Markovits credits with helping him write for a popular audience), said she loves “The Meritocracy Trap,” even if she takes a more sanguine view of the system.

   2019 September 9, Jennifer Schuessler, “The Meritocrat Who Wants to Unwind the Meritocracy”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 10 Sep 2019