arithmocracy
|a-rith-mo-cra-cy|
🇺🇸
/əˌrɪθˈmɑkrəsi/
🇬🇧
/əˌrɪθˈmɒkrəsi/
rule by numbers
Etymology
'arithmocracy' originates from Greek elements, specifically 'arithm-' from Greek 'arithmós' meaning 'number' and '-cracy' from Greek 'kratos' meaning 'power' or 'rule'.
'arithmocracy' is a modern English coinage formed by analogy with words like 'democracy' and 'plutocracy'—combining the Greek root 'arithmós' with the suffix '-cracy' (via New Latin/French usage of Greek 'kratos').
Initially coined to mean literally 'rule by numbers,' the term has come to be used both narrowly for governance by numerical majority and more broadly for decision-making dominated by statistics, metrics, or algorithmic outputs.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a form of rule or governance determined by numbers—e.g., by numerical majority, metrics, statistics, or algorithmic measures rather than other criteria.
Some critics warn that modern policy-making risks becoming an arithmocracy, where metrics and counts drive decisions more than ethical judgment.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/15 08:58