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

And the case about state's bans on transgender athletes involves the Constitution's equal protection clause. —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

The suit alleges that Evanston’s Reparations Program uses race as an eligibility requirement for consideration, thereby violating the 14th amendment’s equal protection clause. —Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026

Seven years later, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas’ law violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. —William McCorkle, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026

Broadnax, a Black man, has long argued his trial infringed on his constitutional rights, namely the 14th Amendment’s guarantees of equal protection and due process. —Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 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.