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 argument opposing the intentional creation of racial districts is that the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment demands the same treatment of all citizens regardless of race, banning any distinction even when designed to benefit minorities. —Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025

That political violence and policy violence are contrary to establishing justice, contrary to providing for the common defense contract, promoting the general welfare, contrary to ensuring domestic tranquility and contrast to equal protection under the law. —Michel Martin, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025

That principle is the equal protection of the laws for everyone. —Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025

The high court will take up a case in its next term that will deal with whether a state law limiting female sports to biological women violates Title IX or the equal protection clause. —Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 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.