ageism

[ ey-jiz-uhm ]

/ ˈeɪ dʒɪz əm /

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noun

discrimination against persons of a certain age group.

a tendency to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment.

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Origin of ageism

First recorded in 1965–70; age + -ism, on the model of sexism, racism, etc.

OTHER WORDS FROM ageism

age·ist, adjective, noun

Words nearby ageism

agee, Agee, James, age group, age hardening, ageing, ageism, ageist, Agelaus, ageless, agelong, agemate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ageism in a sentence

Few things are more fraught with fear, anxiety and ageism than knowing that, if we live long enough, we’ll get old.
Stupid things not to do when you get old|Kathi Wolfe|October 7, 2021|Washington Blade
Research shows that the damage inflicted by ageism is real, Petrow said.
Stupid things not to do when you get old|Kathi Wolfe|October 7, 2021|Washington Blade
Women over 40 years old seem to face a harsher dose of ageism wrapped in sexism.
‘Productivity is through the roof’: Why companies are waging war on meetings to tackle burnout|Jessica Davies|August 16, 2021|Digiday
This may likely garner protests of profiling and reverse ageism, but she trusts that those who are most directly affected will wisely be grateful for the punctual drinks and food served at the appropriate temperature.
Miss Manners: Potential partner company has typos on its website|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|April 23, 2021|Washington Post

So with this prevalent ageism, it’s hardly a surprise women fear talking about menopause.
‘I was fired by a client’: Breaking the taboo around menopause and the workplace|Jessica Davies|April 1, 2021|Digiday
Ageism is the only “ism” that everyone (who lives) will live to suffer from.
This Just In: Seniors Screw Too!|Lenore Szuchman|August 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I can still hear her deep voice raging against ageism in the film industry.
Remembering Maria Schneider|Holly Millea|February 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Ageism and maybe some Socialism have all made their ugly cameos in election 2008.
So Long, Democrats|Wendy Button|October 28, 2008|DAILY BEAST
We have Republicans raising Ayers and Democrats fostering ageism with “erratic” and jokes about Depends.
So Long, Democrats|Wendy Button|October 28, 2008|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for ageism

ageism

agism

/ (ˈeɪdʒɪzəm) /

noun

discrimination against people on the grounds of age; specifically, discrimination against the elderly

Derived forms of ageism

ageist or agist, adjective

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

ageism

Origin of ageism

OTHER WORDS FROM ageism

Words nearby ageism

Words related to ageism

How to use ageism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ageism

agism

Derived forms of ageism