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 suit alleges that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which protects minority voting power in redistricting, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which ensures equal protection under the law for all. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Nov. 2025

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law violated Title IX and the equal protection clause. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2025

In both cases, trans athletes have alleged that laws banning trans girls and women from school sports leagues in Idaho and West Virginia violate the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees equal protection under the law. —Samantha Riedel, Them., 13 Nov. 2025

The administration claims the map is a racial gerrymander specifically designed to favor Hispanic voters in violation of the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 13 Nov. 2025

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.