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

The Franklin Regional School District does not condone this type of behavior, and there is no room for hate speech in our community. —Mamie Bah, CBS News, 9 June 2026

Instead, the ideologues of Russian imperialism have turned to random musings and belligerent hate speech, which seems intended to confuse rather than convince. —Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026

Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Daily News, 3 June 2026

Forms of regulation range from restrictions on cigarette advertising to hate speech laws to shield laws that give journalists special rights to confidentiality. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 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)