equal protection

noun

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of equal protection

: 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

Recent Examples of equal protection from the Web

The homeowners had argued that their rights to equal protection were being violated because they were being offered 140% of the market value of their properties while owners of large chunks of open farmland were offered $50,000 an acre.

— rick romell, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Judge dismisses lawsuit by Foxconn-area homeowners," 4 May 2018
The amendment, which guarantees equal protection, was the legal basis of the civil rights campaign and is the theme for the center’s annual Constitution Day celebration, Sept. 17.

— elaine glusac, New York Times, "Learning About the Civil Rights Era Through Travel," 20 Apr. 2018
The group behind the initiative, the League of United Latin American Citizens, said the practice also violates the constitutional rights of free association, political expression and equal protection under the law.

— Washington Post, "Winner take all? Not if Electoral College critics win cases," 26 Mar. 2018
Non-citizens have many of the same basic rights as citizens, including the right to due process and equal protection under the law.

— hannah dreier, Daily Intelligencer, "Did ICE Violate a Teen Informant’s Civil Rights?," 27 Apr. 2018
The lawsuit says that by flying the flag, Ocean Springs violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection for all citizens.

— Washington Post, "Suit: Mississippi flag’s rebel symbol ‘racially demeaning’," 4 Apr. 2018
The suit says the plan violates their rights to private property, equal protection and due process, and seeks an injunction blocking that plan.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Foxconn-related property condemnations prompt civil rights lawsuit," 9 Jan. 2018
At least four federal courts have found this reasoning constitutionally jarring as well, potentially violating the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

— harry bruinius, The Christian Science Monitor, "Federal courts ask: What is the meaning of 'sex'?," 27 Mar. 2018
In a unanimous ruling in 1954, the court declared school segregation an unconstitutional violation of the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law.

— CBS News, "Linda Brown, student at the center of landmark Brown v. Board of Education, dead at 75," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'equal protection.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of equal protection

1868

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Law Dictionary

equal protection

noun

legal Definition of equal protection

: 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.

Learn More about equal protection

See words that rhyme with equal protection Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about equal protection

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up equal protection? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

equal protection

Definition of equal protection

Recent Examples of equal protection from the Web

First Known Use of equal protection

Law Dictionary

equal protection

legal Definition of equal protection

Learn More about equal protection

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

homogeneous

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Noun + Verb Insult Generator

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

'Deprived' vs. 'Depraved'

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

True or False?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word

equal protection

Definition of equal protection

Recent Examples of equal protection from the Web

First Known Use of equal protection

Law Dictionary

equal protection

legal Definition of equal protection

Learn More about equal protection

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word