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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.

Popular culture from Tamil Nadu, the southern state where “Annapoorani” was made, has routinely taken aim at casteism for nearly a hundred years.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024

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

He came to the United States in 2015 seeking a better life, but was surprised when he saw just how ingrained casteism was in South Asian-American communities as well.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 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

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