hate speech

noun

: speech that is intended to insult, offend, or intimidate a person because of some trait (such as race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability)

Examples of hate speech in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, Dearborn residents Mohammed Hijazi and Stephanie Butler called for unity and condemned any hate speech. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

New South Wales separately passed tighter state firearms laws in December, while the federal government also strengthened laws targeting hate speech and extremism. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Officials insist political or academic criticism remains protected, but the decree raises unanswered questions about how hate speech will be defined and enforced, already straining relations with neighboring Brazil. — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

In September 2025, Nepal's government banned 26 popular social media platforms, alleging the companies had failed to comply with new regulations aimed at curbing misinformation and online hate speech. — Šumit Ganguly, NPR, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hate speech

• microfiche
• overreach
• taoiseach
• beach
• beech
• bleach
• breach
• breech
• each
• keech
• leach
• leech

Legal Definition

hate speech

noun

: speech that is intended to insult, offend, or intimidate a person because of some trait (as race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability)