Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The government, sway, or rule of a pedant or of pedants; the supremacy or power of bookish theorists; a system of government founded on mere book-learning.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun rare The sway of pedants.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Government by pedants.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • A bureaucracy always tends to become a pedantocracy.

    Representative Government 2002

  • If we would possess permanently a skilful and efficient body of functionaries—above all, a body able to originate and willing to adopt improvements; if we would not have our bureaucracy degenerate into a pedantocracy, this body must not engross all the occupations which form and cultivate the faculties required for the government of mankind.

    Chapter V. Applications 1909

  • If we would possess permanently a skilful and efficient body of functionaries—above all, a body able to originate and willing to adopt improvements; if we would not have our bureaucracy degenerate into a pedantocracy, this body must not engross all the occupations which form and cultivate the faculties required for the government of mankind. 22

    V. Applications 1869

  • A bureaucracy always tends to become a pedantocracy.

    Considerations on Representative Government John Stuart Mill 1839

  • a pedantocracy, this body must not engross all the occupations which form and cultivate the faculties required for the government of mankind.

    On Liberty 2002

Comments

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  • We fear for the health of democracy

    And Sanders decries our plutocracy,

    But fears in me linger

    From his wagging finger

    That Bernie supports pedantocracy.

    August 30, 2018