(ˌ)ēˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷əˌnizəm, ə̇ˌ- noun
( -s )
1. : a belief in human equality:
a. : a belief that all men are equal in intrinsic worth and are entitled to equal access to the rights and privileges of their society ; specifically : a social philosophy advocating the leveling of social, political, and economic inequalities
the theory of English egalitarianism has … postulated a process of leveling up, not down; of increasing, not diminishing, the middle classes — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude
b. : the belief that men are born equal in aptitudes and capacities
Plato's view of human nature was such as to be clearly opposed to egalitarianism . … Men are naturally unequal — H.E.Barnes & H.P.Becker
2. : the suppression of all distinctions between individuals and groups as inherently unjust : an extreme social and political leveling
the Tiv people of Nigeria … are nurtured in a “fierce and rather brutal egalitarianism ”, and dislike anything that singles anybody out for special attention — Barbara Wootton
3. : social, political, or economic equality
the egalitarianism of the early Christian communities, where distinctions of class were disregarded and even a slave could hold an important position — H.E.Barnes & H.P.Becker