Taylorism

noun

Tay·​lor·​ism ˈtā-lər-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce Taylorism (audio)
: a factory management system developed in the late 19th century to increase efficiency by evaluating every step in a manufacturing process and breaking down production into specialized repetitive tasks

Examples of Taylorism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, Taylorism had a dark side, emphasizing the importance of machines over humans and managers over employees. Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024 The impact of 1920s innovations Mass production became a reality, due to methods such as Taylorism, developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor, which aimed to optimize the efficiency of workers and production processes. Carlos Moreno, Fortune, 7 May 2024 The principles of Taylorism changed business and management forever. Jim Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Frederick W. Taylor †1915 American engineer

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Taylorism was in 1928

Dictionary Entries Near Taylorism

Cite this Entry

“Taylorism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Taylorism. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Taylorism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!