Meaning & use
racism
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Meanings
noununcountable
Hatred or unfair treatment of people because of their race, or the belief that some races are better than others.
Grammar: Uncountable: racism exists, never 'a racism'.
Patterns
- racism against someone
- racism in something
The coach condemned racism in the sport.
Many students told stories of racism at their old school.
She campaigned against racism for her whole career.
noununcountable
Unequal treatment built into laws, habits or institutions that disadvantages people of certain races.
Grammar: Often modified: systemic racism.
Patterns
- systemic racism
- institutional racism
The report examined institutional racism in hiring.
Historians trace racism in the housing market to old laws.
The city set up a task force to address systemic racism.
Common combinations
- combat racism
- Schools can help combat racism.
- systemic racism
- The speaker discussed systemic racism in education.
- experience racism
- Many athletes experience racism online.
- tackle racism
- The league promised to tackle racism.
- everyday racism
- The film shows everyday racism.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bigotry
- Bigotry is intolerance of any group or opinion, not only race.
- prejudice
- Prejudice is an unfair opinion formed beforehand, which can be about many things.
- discrimination
- Discrimination describes unfair actions, whereas racism covers beliefs and actions based on race.
- xenophobia
- Xenophobia is fear of foreigners, which overlaps but is not the same as racism.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: racism or racialism?
racism vs racialism
Racialism is an older word for race-based belief; racism is the usual modern term.
Practice
A law that unfairly disadvantages one race is an example of ___.
Choose one answer.
Racism is unequal treatment based on race; the other words name unrelated ideas.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “racism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.