racism

ra-cism · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people based on their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group.

  2. 2.

    The belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities that justify treating them differently or unequally.

Related words

Antonyms: equality, tolerance
See also: discrimination, prejudice, racist
Synonyms: bigotry, prejudice, racial discrimination

Etymology

From English race + suffix -ism, first attested in the early 20th century.