ableism
Americannoun
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discrimination against disabled people.
laws to prevent ableism, racism, and sexism in the workplace.
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the tendency to regard people with a disability as incomplete, diminished, or damaged, and to measure the quality of life with a disability against a nondisabled standard.
Ableism reinforces the idea that disability is a personal tragedy.
noun
Sensitive Note
See able-bodied
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ableism
First recorded in 1980–85; able ( def. ) + -ism ( def. )
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.
The Australian Greens disability spokesman Jordon Steele-John, who has cerebral palsy, criticised Albanese for "using disability as the butt of his jokes" - saying that "casual ableism is still ableism".
From BBC • Oct. 8, 2024
So, at a glance, the NaNoWriMo statement seems to be coming from an inclusive place, citing that A.I. can help address classism, ableism, and general access issues.
From Slate • Sep. 11, 2024
San Jose State University defines causal ableism as the kind of language that is "microaggressive and can include using disability as an insult or as an expression."
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2024
Last year, she published her debut novella, “Nebula Vibrations,” which deftly combines a deep-space, sci-fi setting with thoughtful examinations of ableism and privilege.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2023
I know that’s my anxiety and internalized ableism talking, but I can’t get that voice out of my head.
From New York Times • May 14, 2023
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.
