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white saviorism

American  
[wahyt sayv-yer-iz-uhm] / ˈwaɪt ˈseɪv yərˌɪz əm /

noun

  1. a tendency to center a white-savior narrative.

  2. the actions or beliefs of a white savior.

Sensitive Note

See white savior.

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.

Can you talk more about how these ideas show up today in discussing "developing nations" and "white saviorism"?

From Salon • Jul. 4, 2022

This is an emotional moment, though it does have the uncomfortable whiff of white saviorism, when Austin sees the food and hugs Dana Sue, telling her he loves vacation Bible school and he loves her.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2022

They have accused the family of white saviorism and profiting off Huxley.

From Slate • Jun. 4, 2020

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.