Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
racism [rey-siz-uh m] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for racism on Thesaurus.com noun
- a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.
- a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
- hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Origin of racism From the French word racisme, dating back to 1865–70. See race2, -ism Related formsrac·ist, noun, adjectivean·ti·ra·cism, nounUsage note See race2. Related Words for racism discrimination, bigotry, bias, segregation, apartheid, unfairness, partiality, racialism, sectarianism, illiberality Examples from the Web for racism Contemporary Examples of racism
Cosby conspiracy theorists share a perspective born of a long, pained history of American racism.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers
Stereo Williams
January 8, 2015
One blames black Americans as a race; the other, racism as a social structure.
James Poulos
January 1, 2015
The rule of law, you see, buckles, bends and sometimes crumbles under the weight of racism, sexism, and classism.
What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face?
Goldie Taylor
December 30, 2014
They believe that these two people died because of a racism that permeates our society.
Dr. Howard Fuller’s Injustice Education
Campbell Brown
December 21, 2014
I say a lot that in the story of racism in America nobody wants to be the villain.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting
Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard
December 10, 2014
Historical Examples of racism
The Double V campaign against fascism abroad and racism at home achieved considerably less than the activists had hoped.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
To achieve it they would have to fight the racism common in many segments of American society as well as bureaucratic inertia.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
These men were probably blind to the racism implicit in their policies, a racism nurtured by military tradition.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
Turning its back on the overt racism of some southern communities, the Army unwittingly exposed an example of racism in the west.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
The rejection of black units could not always be ascribed to racism alone.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
British Dictionary definitions for racism racism racialism (ˈreɪʃəˌlɪzəm) noun
- the belief that races have distinctive cultural characteristics determined by hereditary factors and that this endows some races with an intrinsic superiority over others
- abusive or aggressive behaviour towards members of another race on the basis of such a belief
Derived Formsracist or racialist, noun, adjective Word Origin and History for racism n.
1936; see racist.
racism in Culture racism
The belief that some races are inherently superior (physically, intellectually, or culturally) to others and therefore have a right to dominate them. In the United States, racism, particularly by whites against blacks, has created profound racial tension and conflict in virtually all aspects of American society. Until the breakthroughs achieved by the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, white domination over blacks was institutionalized and supported in all branches and levels of government, by denying blacks their civil rights and opportunities to participate in political, economic, and social communities.