Egalitarian
/ɪˌɡælɪˈtɛriən/
adjectivenounC1
Definition
Egalitarian means believing in or supporting the idea that everyone should be equal, especially in social, political, or economic rights. When something is egalitarian, it tries to give the same chances or treatment to all people, without unfair differences. As a noun, an egalitarian is a person who supports or works for equality.
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See It in Action
Adjective: Describing beliefs or systems that promote equality
- •The company has an egalitarian policy where all employees receive equal pay.
- •An egalitarian society tries to reduce gaps between rich and poor.
- •They created an egalitarian classroom where every student's opinion mattered equally.
Noun: A person who supports equality among people
- •She is an egalitarian who works to help disadvantaged groups.
- •Many egalitarians believe education should be free for everyone.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "egalitarian" like "fair" (A2 word), but focused on equality for all people, not just being nice
- ✓Picture a classroom where every student gets the same books, help, and chances to speak, no matter who they are
- ✓It's the feeling when you want everyone to have the same chance to succeed, no matter their background
- ✓Sounds like "egg-alitarian" → imagine eggs lined up perfectly equal on a table, no egg is higher or lower than another
- ✓Think of stories about heroes who fight for equal rights for everyone, like Martin Luther King Jr. or Malala Yousafzai
- ✓NOT like "equal" (an adjective meaning same in size or amount) alone—"egalitarian" includes fairness and justice ideas
- ✓NOT like "fair" (can mean just kindness) but "egalitarian" is about equal rights and opportunities for all
- ✓NOT like "elitist" (only some are better), "egalitarian" means no one is better or worse than others
Try Other Words
- •Equal: having the same amount or value (Use when focusing on sameness rather than fairness or justice)
- •Fair: treating people kindly and justly (Use when focusing on kindness or justice in smaller situations)
- •Just: morally right and fair (Use when emphasizing moral correctness rather than strict equality)
- •Unbiased: not showing favoritism (Use when focusing on no personal preference or prejudice)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from French "égal" (equal) + suffix "-itarian" (related to a person or belief)
- •Etymology: Comes from French and Latin roots meaning "equal," combined with a suffix meaning "one who believes in"
- •Historical development: Used since the 1800s to describe ideas and people supporting equal rights and social fairness
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in politics, sociology, and discussions about fairness and equal rights today
- •Key insight: More than just "equal," it involves the idea of fairness and justice in giving everyone the same opportunities
Reflect & Connect
•How can an egalitarian approach change the way schools or workplaces treat people?
•Can a society be truly egalitarian? What challenges might stop this from happening?
Fill in the blanks
1.An egalitarian system tries to ___ the same rights and chances to everyone, no matter their background.
2.People who are egalitarian believe that no one should have ___ advantages over others.
3.Unlike a system that favors a few, an egalitarian society works to ___ differences between groups.
4.When a leader makes an egalitarian decision, they try to be ___ and treat all people equally.
5.The word egalitarian sounds like "egg-alitarian," helping us remember the idea of things being ___ and balanced.
6.Some people think it is hard to create a fully egalitarian society because of ___ and history.
7.An egalitarian person often talks about fairness in ___, politics, and everyday life.