diversity, equity and inclusion

noun

variants or less commonly diversity, equity, and inclusion

1

: a set of values and related policies and practices focused on establishing a group culture of equitable and inclusive treatment and on attracting and retaining a diverse group of participants, including people who have historically been excluded or discriminated against

Through our continued focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, we are increasing the number of female attorneys, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community in the leadership pipeline.

—Phillip G. Hampton, II, quoted in The Madison-St. Clair (Illinois) Record

… we strongly believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion and take many steps toward promoting this through mentoring, internship programs and ensuring equity in pay and opportunity …

—Jonathan Garcia, quoted in The San Antonio (Texas) Business Journal

This means we practice diversity, equity and inclusion in all we do. It includes investing in our people and creating a culture of care.

—Lisa Toppin

—often used before another noun

Virtually every university, government agency and major corporation has embraced some type of diversity, equity and inclusion policies … to ostensibly promote a more open, equitable and, well, inclusive workplace.

—Orange County (California) Register

The legal battle comes amid a string of attacks against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in corporate America, schools and higher education in recent months.

—Niquel Terry Ellis

—abbreviation DEI

2

: the state of having a diverse group of participants as well as policies and norms that are equitable and inclusive

Whether within a company or in the community, achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a journey and a job that is far from done.

—David M. Velazquez and Laron Evans

—abbreviation DEI

Examples of diversity, equity and inclusion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Target also said its first-quarter performance was affected by negative reactions to its pullback on diversity, equity and inclusion policies (DEI) in January, which angered some loyal customers who have long praised the company's commitment to inclusiveness. —Siddharth Cavale, USA Today, 22 May 2025

The report comes as several major studios have pulled back from prior commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 May 2025

The company said Wednesday that sales fell last quarter, driven in part by customer backlash to Target’s reversal on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. —Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 21 May 2025

Target has reduced its full-year sales forecast, with its CEO signaling price rises over tariffs have not been ruled out and blaming declining sales in part on backlash to rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025

Executives blamed tariff uncertainty, weaker discretionary spending and backlash to the company’s rollback of key diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for its performance. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 21 May 2025

Decades before diversity, equity and inclusion became a corporate initiative, Hardison cofounded the Black Girls Coalition in 1988 with the model Iman to celebrate Black models, who were working in such abundance at that time, and to give back to the community. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 20 May 2025

That is the administration’s code word for both climate programs and ones seeking to encourage diversity, equity and inclusion. —Natalie Proulx, New York Times, 20 May 2025

The Trump administration is threatening billions of dollars in federal funding to elite universities over their policies on diversity, equity and inclusion. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 10 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for diversity, equity and inclusion

• allusion
• collusion
• conclusion
• confusion
• contusion
• delusion
• diffusion
• effusion
• exclusion
• extrusion
• illusion
• infusion