ageism

noun

age·​ism ˈā-(ˌ)ji-zəm 

variants or less commonly agism

: prejudice or discrimination against a particular age-group and especially the elderly

ageist adjective

or less commonly agist

ˈā-jist 

Examples of ageism in a Sentence

He accused his former employer of ageism when he lost his job to a younger man.

Recent Examples on the Web

Combatting ageism and invisibility in the startup culture Startup spaces often glorify youth, leaving experienced women feeling invisible. —Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025

Katherine deals with everything from sexism to ageism, while also having to learn a few lessons about kindness and work-life balance along the way. —James Mercadante, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025

Managing career transitions is an especially critical skill for women, who often face barriers related to gender bias, ageism and inflexible work schedules. —Dr. Michelle Penelope King, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

In addition to exposing employers to legal risk, ageism limits their ability to maintain and grow their workforce, which is especially damaging in a competitive talent market. —Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

age entry 1 + -ism (as in racism)

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ageism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

ageism

noun

age·​ism ˈā-(ˌ)jiz-əm 

: prejudice or discrimination against people of a particular age and especially against the elderly

ageist

-jist

adjective