anti-egalitarian
|an-ti-e-gal-i-ta-ri-an|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.iˌɡæl.ɪˈtɛr.i.ən/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.iˌɡæl.ɪˈtɛər.i.ən/
against equality
Etymology
'anti-egalitarian' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') plus 'egalitarian' (from French 'égalitaire', related to 'égalité' meaning 'equality'), ultimately tracing to Latin 'aequalis' meaning 'equal'.
'egalitarian' entered English from French 'égalitaire' (derived from 'égalité'), itself from Latin-related 'aequalis'; the productive prefix 'anti-' (Greek 'anti-') was attached in modern English to create the compound 'anti-egalitarian'.
Initially the elements meant 'against' + 'equality'; over time the compound has come to describe attitudes or policies that oppose egalitarian principles or favor hierarchy.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
opposed to egalitarianism; against the principle that people should be treated as equals.
He expressed anti-egalitarian views, arguing that social hierarchies are natural.
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Adjective 2
favoring inequality or privileging certain groups over others (political/social sense).
Policies described as anti-egalitarian often maintain privileges for elites.
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Last updated: 2025/11/02 07:41