Egalitarian describes a belief that all people should have equal rights, opportunities, and treatment. An egalitarian society tries to minimize unfair differences between people, whether those differences involve money, power, or respect.

When you split the last piece of cake equally among your friends instead of giving it all to one person, you're making an egalitarian choice. When a teacher calls on both the loud students and the quiet ones, giving everyone a chance to participate, that's egalitarian teaching. A company that pays workers fairly for the same job regardless of their background is practicing egalitarian principles.

You'll often hear this word in discussions about politics, schools, and fairness. Someone who believes strongly in egalitarian values might argue that everyone should have access to good education and healthcare, not just people who can afford it. The opposite of egalitarian is hierarchical, where some people have more rights or power than others based on rank or status.