racism
- 1Unfair treatment of people, or hostile feelings toward them, because of their race or ethnic background.
Like blaming someone for something they cannot change, just because of where their family came from.
Racism made it hard for her to find a landlord who would treat her fairly.
The new law is meant to fight racism in hiring.
Similardiscrimination, prejudice, bigotry
Note
- 2The idea that humans split into separate races, and that some races are naturally better than others.
Like sorting people into 'better' and 'worse' boxes just from how they look: and being wrong about it.
Racism wrongly claims that some people are born smarter because of their race.
Teachers worked hard to show students why racism rests on false ideas.
Similarracialism
Note
- 3Rules, customs, or systems that favor one race and hold others down.
Like a game where the rules are quietly written so one team wins every time.
Racism was built into laws that gave some groups better schools and homes.
Activists fought the racism written into the country's old voting rules.
Similardiscrimination
Note
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of racism apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
It comes from the French word "racisme," made from "race" plus "-ism."