social justice warrior

American  

[soh-shuhl juhs-tis wawr-ee-er, wor‐] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˈdʒʌs tɪs ˌwɔr i ər, ˌwɒr‐ /

noun

1. Disparaging. a term for a person who advocates a liberal progressive orthodoxy, often on the internet, especially involving the treatment of ethnic, racial, or sexual minorities. SJW

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Etymology

Origin of social justice warrior

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

Salcedo marched in WeHo Pride while dressed as a social justice warrior carrying a shield that read, “Invest in Trans Lives.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2023

A social worker by day and a social justice warrior by night, she comes from money but presents herself as an ally.

From Washington Post • Feb. 28, 2023

The Shed’s various displays reflect, to varying degrees, his activities as arachnophile, artist, architect, activist, teacher, musician, environmentalist and social justice warrior for clean air.

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2022

Like Congressman John Lewis, another social justice warrior who passed recently, he knew “good trouble” when he saw it and wasn’t afraid to wade in.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 1, 2020

When he started writing in the early 2000s, he said, “the entire social justice warrior movement didn’t exist.”

From Slate • May 17, 2018