- belief in or doctrine asserting racial differences in character, intelligence, etc. and the superiority of one race over another or others: racist doctrine also, typically, seeks to maintain the supposed purity of a race or the races
- any program or practice of racial discrimination, segregation, etc., specif., such a program or practice that upholds the political or economic domination of one race over another or others
- feelings or actions of hatred and bigotry toward a person or persons because of their race
noun
- An example of racism is believing that Caucasians are superior to African Americans.
- An example of racism is refusing to hire an Indian person for a job.
Racism is a belief that one race is superior to the other or the practice of treating a person or group of people differently on the basis of their race.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"racism." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/racism>.
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racism. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/racism
racism
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"racism." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/racism>.
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racism. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/racism
racism
noun
- The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
- Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
Related Forms:
- rac′ist
adjective
noun
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"racism." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/racism>.
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racism. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/racism
Noun
(plural racisms)
- The belief that each race has distinct and intrinsic attributes.
- The belief that one race is superior to all others.
- Prejudice or discrimination based upon race.
- Malcolm X and Martin Luther King both spoke out against racism.
Usage notes
- Different people define race differently, so, naturally, different people define racism differently.
- Racism is generally accepted as wrong in English-speaking societies, and the word racism carries strong negative connotations. Therefore, those opposing a certain practice might characterize it as "racist" in order to try to take advantage of those connotations, and conversely, those defending a certain practice might try to mitigate it by claiming that it is not racist.
- While racism is, per se, usually tied to race, some speakers will (controversially) use the term in other cases as well:
- 2002, Tom Carter-Smith, Sex - an Apology for Love, NORDISC Music & Text, ISBN 87-88619-09-5, page 99,
- The reason for this was the general prejudice (read: racism) against gays among “straight" people; the government simply didn't want the public to be appalled by posters and TV adds with “queers".
- 2002, Tom Carter-Smith, Sex - an Apology for Love, NORDISC Music & Text, ISBN 87-88619-09-5, page 99,
- The term reverse racism has been used to describe racism (in one sense or another) by a group that has traditionally been oppressed, against a traditionally more-empowered group. However, some argue that this distinction does not need to be made, and advocate using simply the term racism; others have argued conversely that the term racism should not be used at all in such cases.
- For many speakers, the term racism implies conscious belief or behavior, but this distinction is not universally held.
terms related to racism
Origin
From French racisme.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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MLA Style
"racism." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/racism>.
APA Style
racism. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/racism
Sentence Examples
- If you abhor racism, you can make a difference by fighting it.
- Chapter 6 describes the students' perceptions and experiences of racism in school.
- Racism thrives because the silence of the majority, and their reluctance to stand up and be counted quietly condones it!
- There is also a need to understand the more specific context, in which racism is reproduced in society on an everyday basis.
- Interestingly enough, in Mexico, the government loosened restrictions and allowed themes such as racism, homosexuality and urban violence to be featured more prominently in Mexican telenovelas.
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