affirmative action

American  

[uh-fur-muh-tiv ak-shuhn] / əˈfɜr mə tɪv ˈæk ʃən /

noun

1. the encouragement of increased representation of women and minority-group members, especially in employment.

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affirmative action British  

noun

1. Brit equivalent: positive discrimination.  a policy or programme designed to counter discrimination against minority groups and women in areas such as employment and education

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affirmative action Cultural  

1. A term referring to various government policies that aim to increase the proportion of African-Americans, women, and other minorities in jobs and educational institutions historically dominated by white men. The policies usually require employers and institutions to set goals for hiring or admitting minorities.

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Discover More

Affirmative action has been extremely controversial. Supporters maintain that it is the only way to overcome the effects of past discrimination and promote integration. Critics dismiss it as “reverse discrimination,” denying opportunities to qualified whites and men. (See Bakke decision).

Other Word Forms

• affirmative-action
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of affirmative action

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Mr. Steele supports affirmative action as “a form of reconciliation with our dominant racial, ethnic, and gender order” and is “saddened by the tenor of the present moment.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

While diversity programs have gone by a variety of names over the decades — nondiscrimination, affirmative action, DEI — they all trace their roots to the Civil Rights Movement, which lasted from 1954 to 1968.

From Salon • Jan. 19, 2026

Sociologist and demographer Sonalde Desai told me that without a fresh caste census, India's affirmative action policies operate "blindly", relying on outdated colonial data.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2025

If embraced, a “status not race” approach could reopen space for policies that directly address the legacies of slavery without triggering the judicial hostility that doomed traditional affirmative action.

From Slate • Oct. 7, 2025

Civil rights activists have created a national movement to save affirmative action, complete with the marches, organizing, and media campaigns, as well as incessant strategy meetings, conferences, and litigation.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander