hate speech

American  

[hayt speech] / ˈheɪt ˌspitʃ /

noun

1. speech, writing, or nonverbal communication that attacks, threatens, or insults a person or group on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

   The racist graffiti was condemned as hate speech.

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hate speech British  

noun

1. speech disparaging a racial, sexual, or ethnic group or a member of such a group

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Etymology

Origin of hate speech

First recorded in 1935–40

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hate speech

He was also accused by billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft of hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric surrounding Israel and Gaza.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Instagram’s terms of service prohibit intellectual property violations, spam, illegal content, hate speech, bullying and abuse, self-injury, graphic violence and inappropriate imagery that may include nudity or sexual content.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

It would be one thing if Macklemore’s comments in New Jersey truly resembled the hate speech that Kraft accused him of dispensing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

And in June, in an unprecedented move in Latin America, a Brazilian court tightened regulations on digital platforms regarding their role in spreading disinformation and hate speech.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

“I’ll be pressuring them to have some kind of schoolwide discussion on diversity and the dangers of hate speech like this.”

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

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