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.

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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

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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.)

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Other Word Forms

• equal-opportunity adjective

Example Sentences

This often comes up as an issue when it comes to selling advertising time—they can’t just sell advertising time to one side without offering an equal opportunity to the other.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

It also guarantees that minorities have an equal opportunity “to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

“It’s what it’s always been: We want housing and healthcare and we want equal opportunity and we want to be seen as contributing members of society,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2025

"We stand committed to parental choice in education, providing equal opportunity to all who seek options when deciding what is best for their children," the statement read.

From BBC • May 22, 2025

Class contradicts their assumptions about the American dream, equal opportunity, and the reasons for their own successes and even failures.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

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