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

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

In 2018 he was briefly suspended from Facebook for sharing anti-Muslim content that violated the platform’s policy against hate speech. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 July 2026

Andrew Tate has amassed over 10 million followers on X but has been banned from platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram for violating hate speech guidelines. — Alanna Durkin Richer, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 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)