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

The most productive period of Reconstruction saw vital civil-rights legislation and two amendments (the Fourteenth and Fifteenth) that defined national citizenship and established equal protection in voting rights. —Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026

And while the sunscreen aisle may suggest otherwise, price doesn't equal protection. —ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026

Subsequently, Rock and her Trailblazhers co-founders, Abeo Power and Frances Ramirez, filed a federal equal protection lawsuit in April 2024 against the police department, police chief George McMains and BAA. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Broadnax, a Black man, has also long argued his capital murder trial was unconstitutional and violated the 14th Amendment's guarantees of equal protection and due process. —Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 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.