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

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Desai told me that without a fresh caste census, India's affirmative action policies operate "blindly", relying on outdated colonial data.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

The conservative advocate who dismantled affirmative action is joining forces with a center-left Democrat and a Duke University economist to challenge another sacred cow in elite college admissions: preferential treatment for the offspring of alumni.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

It also attempted to rebrand affirmative action, a term used for decades, as DEI, which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025

In 1974 I published an essay admitting unease over becoming the beneficiary of affirmative action.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez