Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.

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

  • adjective Characterized by social equality and equal rights for all people.
  • noun A person who accepts or promotes social equality and equal rights for all people.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective favoring social equality
  • noun a person who believes in the equality of all people

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From French égalitaire, from égalité, equality, from Latin aequālitās, from aequālis, equal; see equal.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French égalitaire +‎ -ian

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Examples

  • Only if one makes the dubious assumption of a certain egalitarian ethical outlook must a relatively high coefficient be justified.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Venezuela 2010

  • They are still stuck believing in egalitarian fantasies and clean consciousness.

    Matthew Yglesias » Endgame 2010

  • Only if one makes the dubious assumption of a certain egalitarian ethical outlook must a relatively high coefficient be justified.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Venezuela 2010

  • In fact, as lacking in egalitarian spirit as it may sound, the rigid reciprocity you assume is not entirely mandatory in these situations because the act is really quite enjoyable for both parties.

    THE.... Sodomite Hal Duncan!! Hal Duncan 2008

  • In fact, as lacking in egalitarian spirit as it may sound, the rigid reciprocity you assume is not entirely mandatory in these situations because the act is really quite enjoyable for both parties.

    Archive 2008-03-01 Hal Duncan 2008

  • These cultures were not usually warlike (except in dire circumstances) and have been described as egalitarian because there was little hierarchy, even in terms of gender.

    Elizabeth Debold: What Do Women Want? Again... 2009

  • I think the real problem is that certain sectors of the Left have taken the idea of egalitarian universalism and “tolerance” so far as to invite political, cultural and economic suicide.

    African-American Homophobia May Explain Why California Voted For Proposition 8 2008

  • Grim, sure, but true - not to mention ruthlessly egalitarian, which is why people rarely lob the P-word at those whose answer to life is, "Who knows?"

    Why I love Carolyn Hax 2004

  • Does that make the idea of egalitarian eroticism make more sense?

    Bondage and Patriarchy 2006

  • Grim, sure, but true - not to mention ruthlessly egalitarian, which is why people rarely lob the P-word at those whose answer to life is, "Who knows?"

    Chaos Theory: 2004

Comments

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  • Have just noticed first that I like this word quite a bit more than I thought I did; second, that the reason is it's linked in form and so in feeling with words like 'elegant'.

    August 20, 2009

  • I like it for its high syllable/letter ratio.

    August 20, 2009

  • ... there should be a tag for that. I never noticed.

    August 20, 2009

  • Isn't there a "more vowels than consonants" list somewhere?

    August 20, 2009

  • this-consonant; more-(v)o(r)'wellian perhaps? moi aussi! mossy?

    October 11, 2012