equal protection

noun

: a guarantee under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances

Examples of equal protection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lawyers for the states argued that allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' and women's sports violates the equal protection clause and Title IX. —Andrew Rice The Center Square, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2026

Critics, including a significant faction inside the agency itself, argue the enforcement shift has less to do with equal protection than political targeting. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 May 2026

The lawsuit, filed by the law firm Newman McNulty, alleges the board violated James' First Amendment right to free speech and her 14th Amendment right to equal protection. —Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 19 May 2026

In 1880, 12 years after the ratification of the 14th Amendment – which guarantees equal protection of the law – the Supreme Court struck down that West Virginia law. —Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 8 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for equal protection

• interconnection
• microinjection
• superinfection
• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection

Legal Definition

equal protection

noun

: a guarantee under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances

called also equal protection of the law

see also rational basis test, strict scrutiny, suspect classification

Note: The equal protection requirement of the Constitution protects against legislation that affects individuals differently without a rational basis for doing so. In reviewing claims of denial of equal protection, a court will uphold legislation that has a rational basis unless the legislation affects a fundamental right or involves a suspect classification, such as race. In such a case, the court will use a strict scrutiny standard of review and will strike down legislation that does not show a compelling need for discriminating.