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definitions

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.

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Nearby words

  1. aged,
  2. agedly,
  3. agee,
  4. agee, james,
  5. ageing,
  6. ageist,
  7. agelaus,
  8. ageless,
  9. agelessly,
  10. agelong

Origin of ageism

1965–70; age + -ism, on the model of sexism, racism, etc.
Related formsage·ist, adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ageism

British Dictionary definitions for ageism

ageism

agism

/ (ˈeɪdʒɪzəm) /

noun

discrimination against people on the grounds of age; specifically, discrimination against the elderly
Derived Formsageist 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
Word Origin and History for ageism

ageism

n.

"discrimination against people based on age," coined 1969 by U.S. gerontologist Dr. Robert N. Butler, from age + -ism, on pattern of racism, sexism. Related: Ageist.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper