ageism
Americannoun
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discrimination against persons of a certain age group.
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a tendency to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment.
noun
Usage
What is ageism? Ageism is treating people of a certain age group negatively solely because of their age, as in Thinking that all teenagers are irresponsible is ageism.Ageism is any form of discrimination against people because of their age. Most often, ageism is targeted toward older people, such as thinking that elderly people are helpless because of their advanced age. However, any age group can be discriminated against. For example, thinking that someone in their 20s is too young to be a manager is ageism. So is thinking that teenagers are irresponsible.Example: When you don’t get hired for a position you’re qualified for just because you’re older, that sounds like ageism.
Other Word Forms
- ageist adjective
Etymology
Origin of ageism
First recorded in 1965–70; age + -ism, on the model of sexism, racism, etc.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a recent Harris Poll, 69% of professionals said owning a business is the best protection against ageism in the workforce, antiageism advocate Janine Vanderburg wrote on LinkedIn.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026
In the case of older women, ageism and misogyny sometimes coalesce.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
Meanwhile, ageism can create biases that limit older peoples’ participation in disaster planning, leading to programs insufficiently tailored to their needs.
From Salon • Aug. 7, 2025
Speaking to The Times, these women addressed the lingering misogyny and ageism in the stand-up comedy industry, but said comedy offered them an outlet for self-discovery at an age where women can become invisible.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025
Current and former governments have agreed on the need for more diverse volunteers to avoid perceived discrimination or ageism.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2025
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
