equal opportunity

American  

noun

1. the aggregation of policies and practices in employment and other areas that do not discriminate against people on the basis of race, skin color, age, sex, gender, national origin, religion, or mental or physical disability.

---

equal opportunity British  

noun

1. 1. the offering of employment, pay, or promotion equally to all, without discrimination as to sex, race, colour, disability, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      our equal-opportunity policy

      an equal-opportunities employer

---

equal opportunity Cultural  

1. The goal of giving all persons an equal chance to an education and employment, and to protect their civil rights, regardless of their race, religious beliefs, or gender. In the United States, various minority groups have been fighting for equal opportunity over the last 150 years. (See affirmative action, civil rights movement, equal protection of the laws, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Organization for Women, segregation, sexism, suffragist, and women's movement.)

---

Other Word Forms

• equal-opportunity adjective

Example Sentences

The regulation specifies that “if any licensee shall permit any . . . candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station,” the station owner “shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates.”

From The Wall Street Journal

A year earlier, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had issued an executive order mandating equal opportunities for all citizens in federal offices.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Every player should have the right to fair and equal opportunity," said Tom Moffat, chief executive of the World Cricketers' Association - the global players' union.

From BBC

Their aim is to ensure that athletes from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to succeed on the Olympic stage through "essential funding".

From BBC

It confirmed it will work with the Equality Commission to review its equal opportunities policies, procedures, and practices.

From BBC

Related Words

• civil rights
• coordination
• fairness
• identity
• impartiality
• parity
• tolerance