affirmative action
the encouragement of increased representation of women and minority-group members, especially in employment.
Origin of affirmative action
1Other words from affirmative action
- af·firm·a·tive-ac·tion, adjective
Words Nearby affirmative action
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use affirmative action in a sentence
Articles in The Tech claimed that affirmative action was diluting the quality of the student pool.
Building a better chemical factory—out of microbes | Leigh Buchanan | August 24, 2021 | MIT Technology ReviewIn theory, this bias could then be accounted for via some form of algorithmic affirmative action, such as lowering the threshold for approval for minority applications.
Bias isn’t the only problem with credit scores—and no, AI can’t help | Will Douglas Heaven | June 17, 2021 | MIT Technology ReviewAfter eight years of legal proceedings, Coors finally committed to affirmative action, as well as targeted recruitment and training programs for women and minorities.
The solution to the craft beer industry’s sexism and diversity problems | Allyson Brantley | June 3, 2021 | Washington PostIn a reversal of his earlier position on race, he supported affirmative action policies.
Bill Brock was the forgotten father of the modern GOP | Seth Blumenthal | March 26, 2021 | Washington PostThe group is being represented free of charge by Pacific Legal Foundation, a California-based conservative legal group that has been sharply critical of affirmative action.
Fairfax County school system faces second lawsuit over changes to Thomas Jefferson admissions | Hannah Natanson | March 10, 2021 | Washington Post
A sizable number of Asian Americans feel that affirmative action, in college admissions or elsewhere, has hurt them personally.
And Derbyshire “always assume[s] that any black person in a well-paid position is an affirmative action hire.”
Politically, witness the increasing popularity of affirmative action based on class rather than race.
How Barack and Michelle Have Normalized Black Prominence | John McWhorter | May 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe piece—an intended satire of affirmative action—was not received quite as warmly as the “I speak Jive” scene from Airplane!
Ex-Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner Relives College Glory Days | Olivia Nuzzi | May 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTaffirmative action in college admissions has helped white women even more than people of color.
Eight Things Every White Person Should Know About White Privilege | Sally Kohn | May 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe truth is, that in our atmosphere all affirmative action is difficult; it is hard either to be or to do.
He impelled her to this affirmative action by suggesting, "Would you like to have a little extra suet wrapped up with it?"
Certain Success | Norval A. Hawkins
British Dictionary definitions for affirmative action
US a policy or programme designed to counter discrimination against minority groups and women in areas such as employment and education: Brit equivalent: positive discrimination
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for affirmative action
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.
Notes for affirmative action
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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