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 lawsuit, brought by the group Faculty, Alumni, and Students Opposed to Racial Preferences, cites violations of Title VI, the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, and equal rights under the law. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 19 June 2025

In the ruling, the conservative majority rejected arguments that barring such care violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. —Solcyré Burga, Time, 18 June 2025

In the Tennessee case, the high court said that preventing minors from using puberty blockers and hormone therapy does not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 18 June 2025

The Biden administration, three families and a physician argued that the ban violates the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law. —Melissa Quinn june 9, CBS News, 9 June 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.