profiling

[ proh-fahy-ling ]

/ ˈproʊ faɪ lɪŋ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for profiling on Thesaurus.com

noun

the use of personal characteristics or behavior patterns to make generalizations about a person, as in gender profiling.

the use of these characteristics to determine whether a person may be engaged in illegal activity, as in racial profiling.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby profiling

proficient, profile, profile component, profile drag, profiler, profiling, Profilometer, profit, profitable, profit and loss, profit and loss account

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use profiling in a sentence

The company runs a vast profiling machine, fitting people into categories that say who they are, what they’re worth, and how they’re expected to act.
This tool lets you confuse Google’s ad network, and a test shows it works|Konstantin Kakaes|January 6, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Progressive profiling, in which marketers gather small amounts of data at a time, often via a series of forms on their website, also can help companies tailor email content, tone of voice, timing, and so on to better serve each audience segment.
Five email marketing predictions: Continuing trends and new opportunities|Guy Hanson|January 5, 2021|Search Engine Watch
Of the 119 complaints alleging racial and identity profiling in 2018 and 2019, the Sheriff’s Department determined that all but one were unfounded.
Morning Report: A Wild, High-Profile Day for San Diego Pols|Voice of San Diego|December 23, 2020|Voice of San Diego
State law requires that police agencies turn over the total number of complaints against officers, including but not limited to allegations of racial or identity profiling.
Why Complaints Against the Sheriff’s Department Are Surging|Jesse Marx|December 22, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Apple and Facebook are openly feuding over the future of online profiling and behavior tracking.
GitHub CEO: We’re nuking all tracking ‘cookies’ and you should too|rhhackettfortune|December 17, 2020|Fortune
First on the to-do list, the profiling exercises to help the Western masses understand the nature of the wretched beast.
ISIS and BS|Amal Ghandour|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Right-wing columnists call for Eric Holder to launch a full-scale federal investigation on racial profiling at the White House.
Obama, the Coffee Salute, and the Dementia on the Right|Sally Kohn|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Real-world profilers have to be careful, and are, not to indulge in facile ethnic, racial or religious “profiling.”
Inside the Mind of an ISIS Jihadi|Jamie Dettmer|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As fears of the virus hitting Europe intensify, health officials warn that paranoia and racial profiling may grow, as well.
Ebola-Fueled Racism Is on the Rise in Europe|Barbie Latza Nadeau|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We have been the target of widespread profiling and surveillance by the NYPD simply because of our faith.
Michael Brown, Gaza, and Muslim Americans|Dean Obeidallah|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for profiling

profiling

/ (ˈprəʊˌfaɪlɪŋ) /

noun

the practice of categorizing people and predicting their behaviour according to particular characteristics such as race or ageracial profiling

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

profiling

Words nearby profiling

Words related to profiling

How to use profiling in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for profiling