sexist
Americanadjective
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relating to, involving, or fostering sexism, or attitudes and behavior toward someone based on the person's gender.
a sexist remark;
sexist advertising.
-
relating to discrimination or devaluation based on a person's sex or gender, especially such discrimination directed against women.
A sexist work culture contributes to restricted job opportunities for women.
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reflecting or exhibiting ingrained or institutionalized prejudice against women.
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reflecting or exhibiting hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women; misogynistic.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sexist
First recorded in 1965–70; sex + -ist, on the model of racist ( def. )
Explanation
A sexist is someone who discriminates on the basis of gender. Sexist people and laws are unfair. Like racist and homophobic, this word refers to a type of hatred or discrimination: in this case, on the basis of gender. Usually, sexist people and laws discriminate against women. Back when women couldn't vote, wear pants, or own property, you could say that the world was pretty sexist. Likewise, before all-women Vassar College began admitting men, it was accused of having sexist policies. Treating a man or woman differently just because they're male or female is sexist.
Vocabulary lists containing sexist
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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A Mango-Shaped Space
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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.
“You hear a youngness when you listen to these songs,” says musicologist Lily Hirsch, author of “Can’t Stop the Grrrls: Confronting Sexist Labels in Music from Ariana Grande to Yoko Ono.”
From Seattle Times • Jul. 6, 2023
Fiona Texeire, a co-founder of the Observatory of Sexual and Sexist Violence in Politics, said that some women leave politics “because it is not an environment where you can work in perfect safety.”
From New York Times • May 23, 2022
A new "Gender-Inclusive/Non-Sexist Language Guidelines and Resources" page made by the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Pittsburgh features a section titled "Terms to Use to Avoid Sexist Language."
From Fox News • Oct. 26, 2021
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello also took to Twitter to praise the Linda Lindas and call “Racist, Sexist Boy” the song of the day.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2021
Life changed this week for L.A. girl-punk band the Linda Lindas, whose library performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy” blew up the internet.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2021
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
