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casteism

American  
[kast-iz-uhm] / ˈkæstˌɪz əm /

noun

  1. discrimination or hereditary social distinction based on caste, especially discrimination against those of lower caste.

  2. any rigid hereditary system of social stratification similar to the system of castes found in India.


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.

During the summer of anti–police brutality protests spurred by George Floyd’s murder, Americans newly introduced to sociopolitical concepts like systemic racism and mutual aid likewise got their first glimpses of casteism.

From Slate • Sep. 21, 2023

U.S. discrimination laws ban ancestry discrimination but do not explicitly ban casteism.

From Reuters • Mar. 22, 2023

While the U.S. has never formally recognized the caste system, South Asians have faced discrimination within workplaces and higher education, with a growing number of organizations working to recognize and combat casteism in recent years.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 21, 2023

Madonne Ashwin’s debut feature is a bit of a bonkers farce, but it offers a bitingly realistic critique of political opportunism and casteism in India.

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2022

Sitting on his balcony in Pune, Kale described how casteism followed him on his path to higher education.

From Salon • Aug. 8, 2021