racism

rac·ism

noun \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\

Definition of RACISM

1

: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

2

: racial prejudice or discrimination

— rac·ist \-sist also -shist\ noun or adjective

Examples of RACISM

1. the racism that was the basis of apartheid
2. <Hitler's declaration of his belief in a “master race” was an indication of the inherent racism of the Nazi movement.>
3. The recording career of the Henderson band was brief … due partly to the racism of booking agencies that didn't take on black acts until the mid-'30s, when Henderson's career was on the downswing. —Greg Tate, Vibe, April 1995
4. Today, Hawaii has one of the most diverse populations anywhere. Each group has its own stories of prejudice and opportunities limited by racism. —Jill Center, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 1995

First Known Use of RACISM

1933

Related to RACISM

Synonyms: racialism

Related Words: apartheid, segregation, separatism; eugenics

Near Antonyms: desegregation, integration

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

Rhymes with RACISM

abysm, ageism, autism, baalism, baptism, Birchism, bossism, bruxism, Buddhism, casteism, centrism, charism, Chartism, classism, cubism, cultism, czarism, deism, dwarfism, faddism, fauvism, Gaullism, Grecism, Hobbism, holism, Jainism, Klanism, leftism, lyrism, Mahdism, Maoism, Marxism, monism, mutism, Nazism, nudism, Orphism, priggism, purism, Ramism, rightism, sadism, Saivism, sapphism, Scotism, sexism, Shaktism, Shiism, Sikhism, simplism, snobbism, sophism, statism, Sufism, tachism, Tantrism, Taoism, theism, Thomism, tourism, tropism, truism, Turkism, verism, Whiggism, Yahwism