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

Carlson, already under fire for his past remarks about race and immigration, was accused of amplifying hate speech under the guise of political debate. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

His acquisition of Twitter was controversial due to a subsequent increase in hate speech and the spread of misinformation on the service. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 Oct. 2025

There’s a difference between sharing opinions that have been widely held on topics and hate speech that is unkind, uses names or wishes harm, by Doherty’s description. —Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 28 Oct. 2025

Supporters, including some Jewish students, say the definition would help distinguish between free speech and hate speech. —Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025

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)