ageism

[ ey-jiz-uh m ]

/ ˈeɪ dʒɪz əm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ageism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

discrimination against persons of a certain age group.

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

Nearby words

age-proof, aged, agee, agee, james, ageing, ageism, agelaus, ageless, agelong, agemate, agen

Origin of ageism

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

Related forms

age·ist, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ageism

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
Ageism and maybe some Socialism have all made their ugly cameos in election 2008.
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

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